The role of arginyl residues in estrogen receptor activation and transformation

Receptor-estradiol complexes (RE2) formed at 0 degree C in hypotonic buffers bind poorly to nuclei (nonactivated state); their sedimentation coefficient in low or high salt sucrose density gradients (SDG) is 8 S or 4 S, respectively (untransformed state); estradiol dissociates from untransformed RE2 at a high rate (k-1 = 0.44 min-1). Brief heating (28 degrees C, 30 min) induces activation (increased binding of RE2 to nuclei and polyanions), transformation (formation of receptor dimers which sediment at 6 S in 0.4 M KCl/borate SDG) and RE2 transition into a state from which E2 dissociates at a lower rate (k-2 = 8 X 10(-3) min-1). We have examined the role of arginyl residues in the above changes in receptor properties. It is well established (Patthy, L., and Smith, E. L. (1975) J. Biol. Chem. 250, 557-564; 565-569) that 1,2-cyclohexanedione (1,2-CHD) is a highly specific arginine-modifying agent; in borate buffer at 28 degrees C, but not at 0 degrees C, peptide arginyls are covalently modified. RE2 complexes heated in the presence of 1,2-CHD (50 mM) bind poorly to nuclei; 1,4-cyclohexamedione and 1,2-cyclohexanediol had no effect. This reagent also prevents the temperature-induced transition of RE2 into a state with slow E2 dissociation rates although it does not interfere with heat transformation (formation of 6 S dimer). Modification of heat-activated and transformed RE2 by 1,2-CHD causes a loss in receptor binding to nuclei and alters RE2 from a state with slow into a state with fast E2 dissociation rates, although the receptor remains unaltered in the transformed 6 S state. At 0 degree C, i.e. in the absence of covalent arginyl modification, 1,2-CHD promotes dissociation of the 8 S aggregate into 4.6 S subunits which bind to nuclei to the same extent as heat-transformed control RE2. Heating of the molybdate-stabilized 8 S receptor in the presence of 1,2-CHD yields a nonactivated 8 S receptor (4.6 S on high salt SDG); removal of molybdate and unreacted 1,2-CHD by gel filtration at 0 degree C followed by exposure to high ionic strength causes 8 S to 4 S dissociation; these 4 S subunits, however, do not bind to nuclei, suggesting that their nucleotropic domain was accessible to 1,2-CHD modification while the receptor was in the aggregated 8 S state. It is proposed that the nuclear binding site of the estrogen receptor contains arginyl residues. Furthermore, a distinct set of arginyl residues appears to be related to the estrogen-binding domain; its integrity is required for the heat-induced formation and maintenance of the RE2 state with slow E2 dissociation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)