Estrogen receptor-induced bending of the Xenopus vitellogenin A2 gene hormone response element

DNA bending is increasingly proposed as an essential step for the establishment of the multiprotein complexes required for transcription initiation. Polyamines and metallic cations, known to promote DNA-bending, enhance the binding of purified estrogen receptor (ER) to the estrogen response element (ERE) of the Xenopus vitellogenin A2 gene. Using both circular permutation electrophoretic mobility and cyclization assays, we provide evidence that ER bends the DNA at the estrogen response element. The same bending occurs as a result of estrogen receptor protein binding independently of its conformational changes induced by hormone or anti-hormone. We suggest a role of the observed DNA bending in estrogen-regulated transcription.