Search

The structure and properties of an unusual estrogen-binding protein (UEBP) from male rat liver that was purified by affinity adsorption chromatography was studied. A high degree of purity of UEBP (greater than 99%) associated with appreciable microheterogeneity was demonstrated. The latter seems to be due to partial proteolysis of the protein at the N-end in the course of the isolation procedure. The purified UEBP molecules have the following characteristics: Mr = 31 000 (data from SDS-PAAG electrophoresis), sedimentation coefficient 3.75 S, Stockes'radius 25.6 A, friction coefficient ratio 1.11. The protein absorbance maximum in the UV region lies at 276 nm; extinction coefficient--26, alpha-helix content is 25-30%. The value of equilibrium association constant for estradiol is 5 X 10(7) M-1. Estriol (greater than 100%) and, in a weaker degree, estrone and testosterone (approximately 10%) compete for the binding sites with [3H]estradiol; androsterone has no competitive effect. The amino acid composition of UEBP was determined. The protein was shown to possess a great number of residues carrying hydrophobic side groups (34.4%) and more acidic amino acids over basic ones as well as a low content of cystein, threonine and histidine.

The relative competitive activity of some androstane derivatives was determined by 50% inhibition of [3H]estradiol binding to an unusual estrogen-binding protein (UEBP) of male rat liver. It was shown that: i) the bulk of energy of the steroid-protein complex is derived from hydrophobic interactions; ii) the authentic ability to form specific complexes with UEBP at androgene concentrations close to physiological ones, is determined by 17 beta-hydroxyl and is enhanced by the 3 alpha- or 2 alpha-oxy-group; iii) 3- and 17-keto groups inhibit androgene interaction with UEBP; iiii) the cis-conjunction of rings A and B in the androgen molecule does not block steroid binding to the protein. These data specify significantly the mechanism of androgene interaction with UEBP and shed additional light on the physiological role of this protein.

The effects of rabbit polyclonal antibodies (AB) against an unusual estrogen-binding protein (UEBP) isolated from rat liver by immunoadsorption on the interaction of [3H]estradiol with UEBP, estrogen receptors of uterus and other tissues, of [3H]dihydroxytestosterone with prostate androgen receptors, of [3H]progesterone with uterine progesterone receptors and of [3H]dexamethazone with rat thymus glucocorticoid receptors were investigated. It was shown that preincubation of cytosol of the above tissues with AB decreases the ability of UEBP, estrogen and androgen receptors to bind the corresponding ligands. The hormone-binding activity of progesterone and glucocorticoid receptors in the presence of AB remains thereby unchanged. The binding activity of UEBP in the presence of ABUEBP diminishes due to the decrease in the concentration of protein binding sites, whereas that of estrogen and androgen receptors decreases due to the diminution of affinity for their ligands which, in turn, is the result of reduction of the association rate constant. A cross influence of AB on the activity of uterine estrogen receptors of rabbit, guinea pig and mouse was observed. It was assumed that the structure of UEBP and sex steroid receptors has some similar elements.

The accumulation of [3H]estradiol-receptor complexes by liver nuclei after preliminary incubation of the hormone with rat liver cytosol was studied. It was demonstrated that addition to female rat liver cytosol of a purified preparation of the unusual estrogen-binding protein (UEBP) from male rat liver causes a dose-dependent inhibition of subsequent accumulation of specifically bound [3H]estradiol in the nuclei. Addition to male rat liver cytosol of 1.5 microM 2 alpha-hydroxytestosterone, testosterone, 1-dehydrotestosterone, 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol and 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone, i. e. compounds possessing marked affinity for UEBP, resulted in a 2-5-fold increase of the subsequent nuclear accumulation of estrogen-receptor complexes. The use of UEBP-deficient female rat liver cytosol revealed that the afore-mentioned steroids are ineffective with respect to estrogen reception. It is concluded that UEBP of male rat liver is capable of modulating estrogen reception.