Binding Assays Using a Benzofurazan-Labeled Fluorescent Probe for Estrogen Receptor-Ligand Interactions

Binding assays are widely used to study the estrogenic activity of compounds targeting the estrogen receptor (ER). The fluorescence properties of benzofurazan (BD), an environmentally sensitive fluorophore, are affected by solvent polarity. In this study, we synthesized BD-labeled estradiol (E2) derivatives hoping to develop a fluorescent ligand to be used in ER binding assays, without the separation of free- from bound-ligand. Three fluorescent ligands with a BD skeleton were obtained and their fluorescence properties were investigated. Analysis of the fluorescent ligands and human recombinant ERα (hr-ERα) interactions revealed that the fluorescence intensity increased in hydrophobic environments, such as the receptor-binding site. In saturation binding assays, ABD-E2 derivative 2c showed positive cooperative binding, and its dissociation constant (K_d) and Hill coefficient were 23.4 nM and 1.34, respectively. The estrogenic compounds affinity, assessed by competitive binding assays was well correlated with the results obtained by conventional studies, using the fluorescence polarization method. Overall, the developed assay using BD-labeled ligands was a simple, rapid, and reliable method for the evaluation of ER binding affinity.