Evaluating steroid hormone receptor interactions using the live-cell NanoBRET proximity assay

Steroid hormone receptors play a crucial role in the development and characterization of the majority of breast cancers. These receptors canonically function through homodimerization, but physical interactions between different hormone receptors play a key role in cell functions as well. The estrogen receptor (ERα) and progesterone receptor (PR), for example, are involved in a complex set of interactions known as ERα/PR crosstalk. Here, we developed a valuable panel of nuclear receptor expression plasmids specifically for use in NanoBRET assays to assess nuclear receptor homo- and heterodimerization. We demonstrate the utility of this assay system by assessing ERα/PR physical interaction in the context of the endocrine therapy resistance-associated ERα Y537S mutation. We identify a role of the ERα Y537S mutation beyond that of constitutive activity of the receptor; it also increases ERα/PR crosstalk. In total, the NanoBRET assay provides a novel avenue for investigating hormone receptor crosstalk. Future research may use this system to assess the effects of other clinically significant hormone receptor mutations on hormone receptor crosstalk.