title: A ligand-specific kinetic switch regulates glucocorticoid receptor trafficking and function.
abstract: The ubiquitously expressed glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is a major drug target for inflammatory disease, but issues of specificity and target tissue sensitivity remain. We now identify high potency, non-steroidal GR ligands, GSK47867A and GSK47869A, which induce a novel conformation of the GR ligand-binding domain (LBD) and augment the efficacy of cellular action. Despite their high potency, GSK47867A and GSK47869A both induce surprisingly slow GR nuclear translocation, followed by prolonged nuclear GR retention, and transcriptional activity following washout. We reveal that GSK47867A and GSK47869A specifically alter the GR LBD structure at the HSP90-binding site. The alteration in the HSP90-binding site was accompanied by resistance to HSP90 antagonism, with persisting transactivation seen after geldanamycin treatment. Taken together, our studies reveal a new mechanism governing GR intracellular trafficking regulated by ligand binding that relies on a specific surface charge patch within the LBD. This conformational change permits extended GR action, probably because of altered GR-HSP90 interaction. This chemical series may offer anti-inflammatory drugs with prolonged duration of action due to altered pharmacodynamics rather than altered pharmacokinetics.
authors.affiliation: Manchester Centre for Nuclear Hormone Research in Disease, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK.
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Trebble
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Woolven
authors.forename: Ken A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Saunders
authors.forename: Karen D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: Stuart N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Farrow
authors.forename: Laura C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Ray
mesh_terms: D000730:Androstadienes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001549:Benzamides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016227:Benzoquinones / Q000494:pharmacology; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D000068298:Fluticasone; D018841:HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D007154:Immune System Diseases; D007191:Indazoles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D047029:Lactams, Macrocyclic / Q000494:pharmacology; D008024:Ligands; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D011487:Protein Conformation; D054730:Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs / Q000235:genetics; D021381:Protein Transport; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000819:agonists / Q000378:metabolism*; D015533:Transcriptional Activation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000730:Androstadienes; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D001549:Benzamides; D016227:Benzoquinones; C584557:GSK47867A; C584558:GSK47869A; D018841:HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins; D007191:Indazoles; D047029:Lactams, Macrocyclic; D008024:Ligands; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; D003907:Dexamethasone; D000068298:Fluticasone; C001277:geldanamycin
keywords: Crystal structure; GR; Glucocorticoid; Heat shock protein 90; Nuclear receptor; Subcellular trafficking