Identification of nuclear type II [(3)H]estradiol binding sites as histone H4

[3H]Luteolin binds covalently to uterine nuclear type II sites [B. Markaverich, K. Shoulars, M.A. Alejandro, T. Brown, Steroids 66 (2001) 707] and was used to identify this protein(s). SDS-PAGE analyses of [3H]luteolin-labeled type II site preparations revealed specific binding to 11- and 35-kDa proteins. The 11-kDa protein was identified as histone H4 by amino acid sequencing. Western blotting confirmed that the 11- and 35-kDa proteins were acetylated forms of histone H4. Anti-histone H4 antibodies (but not H2A, H2B, or H3 antibodies) quantitatively immunoadsorbed type II binding sites from nuclear extracts. Binding analyses by [3H]estradiol exchange, using luteolin as a competitor, detected specific type II binding activity to histone H4 (but not histones H2A, H2B, or H3) generated in a rabbit reticulocyte lysate translation system and confirmed that histone H4 is the type II site.