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Changes in the amount of cytosolic 3,5,3′-tri-iodo-l-thyronine (T3)-binding protein (CTBP) and its activator during administration of l-thyroxine (T4) to thyroidectomized rats were investigated. Thyroidectomy decreased the amount of CTBP in the kidney, whereas the activator was not significantly modified by thyroidectomy. The activator was increased by administration of T4to thyroidectomized rats. The amount of CTBP was also increased by administration of T4. The activator increased the maximal binding capacity (MBC) without changes in the affinity constant for T3binding in CTBP. A T4-induced increase in MBC in cytosol inhibited nuclear T3binding in vitroby competition of T3binding between CTBP and the nuclear receptor.These results suggest that thyroid hormone increases the capacity for cytosolic T3binding through increasing the amount of CTBP and its activator, and that these increases play a role in regulating the amount of T3that binds to its nuclear receptor.Journal of Endocrinology(1989) 123,99–104

The effects of histone subfractions on rat liver thyroid hormone receptor–DNA interaction were examined using an in-vitro DNA-cellulose binding assay. H1 histones bound to DNA showed reversible and potent inhibition of receptor–DNA binding without affecting receptor–hormone binding. Poly-lysine, bovine serum albumin, ovalbumin and cytochrome cdid not alter receptor–DNA binding. H1 histone subfractions (calf thymus lysine-rich histone (CTL)-1, CTL-2 and CTL-3) showed potent inhibition of receptor–DNA binding indistinguishable from each other. The quantity of H1 histone subfractions bound to DNA was the same. Although each subfraction has different functional properties, inhibition of receptor–DNA binding was a common feature of all the H1 histone subfractions, which is important for the non-random distribution of the receptor in chromatin.Binding of the receptor to core histones was investigated; it was found to bind to core histones more potently than to other proteins (H1 histone, ovalbumin and cytochrome c). Among core histone subfractions, H4 histone bound to the receptor most potently and is the candidate to be one of the acceptor sites of the receptor in chromatin.Journal of Endocrinology(1989) 121,337–341

An aqueous two-phase partitioning study of partially purified nuclear thyroid hormone receptor from rat liver was performed. Stability of 3,5,3′-tri-iodo-l-thyronine (T3)–receptor complex and T3-binding activity in the presence of dextran or polyethylene glycol were assessed in order to determine the amount of occupied or unoccupied receptors in each phase. Partition coefficients were calculated as the ratio of receptor concentration in the upper polyethylene glycol-rich phase H2O and that in the lower dextranrich phase H2O. The partition coefficient was a sensitive function of the salt at pH above 6·1 and below 5·1. The salt had no effect on the partition coefficient at pH around 5·6. These results suggest that the isoelectric point of the thyroid hormone receptor is about 5·6, confirming previous determinations using isoelectric focusing. The partition coefficient of the receptor decreased upon T3binding, regardless of the salt composition. In contrast, the partition coefficient of thyroxine-binding globulin increased upon T3binding. Free T3preferentially partitioned into the upper polyethylene glycol-rich phase and gave a partition coefficient higher than 1·0. These results strongly suggest that the decrease in the partition coefficient of the receptor upon hormone binding reflects conformational changes or changes in electrostatic properties of the receptor upon hormone binding. Such an alteration may be involved in biological activation of the receptor upon hormone binding.J. Endocr. (1988) 119,431–437