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M Gillner

Publications and source records attributed to M Gillner.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Functional probing of the human glucocorticoid receptor steroid-interacting surface by site-directed mutagenesis. Gln-642 plays an important role in steroid recognition and binding.

To elucidate which amino acids in the glucocorticoid receptor ligand-binding domain might be involved in determining steroid binding specificity by interaction with the D-ring of glucocorticoids, we have performed site-directed mutagenesis of the four amino acids Met-560, Met-639, Gln-642, and Thr-739 based on their proximity to the steroid in a model structure. Mutations of these residues affected steroid binding affinity, specificity, and/or steroid-dependent transactivation. The results indicate that these residues are located in close proximity to the ligand and appear to play a role in steroid recognition and/or transactivating sensitivity, possibly by changes in the steroid-dependent conformational change of this region, resulting in the formation of the AF-2 site. Mutation of Gln-642 resulted in a marked decrease in affinity for steroids containing a 17alpha-OH group. This effect was alleviated by the presence of a 16alpha-CH(3) group to a varying degree. Thr-739 appears to form a hydrogen bond with the 21-OH group of the steroid, as well as possibly forming hydrophobic interactions with the steroid. Met-560 and Met-639 appear to form hydrophobic interactions with the D-ring of the steroid, although the nature of these interactions cannot be characterized in more detail at this point.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Pharmacophores incorporating numerous excluded volumes defined by X-ray crystallographic structure in three-dimensional database searching: application to the thyroid hormone receptor.

In the present study we investigate whether augmentation of pharmacophores with excluded (ligand-inaccessible) volumes can condense the lengthy unspecific hit lists often obtained in 3D-database searching. Our pharmacophores contained hydrophobic features defined by the hormone, hydrogen bond donor and acceptor features of the liganded rat THR-alpha X-ray structure, and excluded volumes located at the positions and scaled according to the sizes of atoms delineating the binding cavity. We now show, for the first time, that it is perfectly feasible with the Catalyst software to search, in 1-2 h, medium-sized databases such as Maybridge (with 5 x 10(5) compounds registered as multiple conformers) with pharmacophores containing numerous (approximately 10(2)) excluded volumes. The excluded volumes did not slow the search significantly; for pharmacophores containing more features they also reduced the size of the hit list the most. For example, with a 7-feature pharmacophore, the Maybridge hit list shrank from 4 to 1. The single remaining compound was subsequently shown to bind to THR-alpha with an IC50 of 69 microM. Thus, we conclude that structure-based pharmacophores augmented with numerous excluded volumes can effectively prune and focus hit lists. The performance of multiple excluded volume-supplemented structure-based pharmacophores in 3D-database mining as implemented with the Catalyst software compares very favorably with other published procedures, with respect to speed, specificity, and ease of use.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Structural basis for calcium binding by uteroglobins.

Uteroglobins, i.e. proteins with similar three-dimensional structure and ligand binding specificity to uteroglobin from rabbit uterus, have been found in rat, mouse and human lung. We have recently demonstrated the binding of calcium by human uteroglobin, and we have therefore tried to find potential binding sites for metals in the three-dimensional structure of uteroglobin by the use of two different computational procedures. A putative binding site for calcium in uteroglobin was identified by means of a hydrophobic contrast function. The spatial disposition of atoms that could ligand calcium in the putative calcium-binding site appears similar to that of the primary calcium-binding site of secretory phospholipase A2 enzymes, consisting of the carboxyl group of an aspartic acid residue and a loop providing three backbone carbonyl oxygens. From inspection of their primary sequences and three-dimensional structures, it became clear that this putative calcium-binding motif is conserved among uteroglobins from different species. The potential significance of the predicted site was investigated by site-directed point mutagenesis of human uteroglobin in which Asp46 was replaced by Asn or Lys. In both mutants, the ruthenium red and 45Ca2+ binding was significantly reduced. Sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under non-reducing conditions indicated that the mutant proteins had the expected molecular masses and that their ability to dimerize was not disturbed by these mutations. Valence calculations also identified the putative calcium-binding site, but only after optimization of its conformation by the use of molecular dynamics with a restrained calcium ion. Our results support the notion that Asp46 of uteroglobins acts as a "cap" residue in a calcium-binding site structurally similar to the primary calcium binding sites of phospholipases A2.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Molecular basis for human immunodeficiencies.

Major emphasis is currently being placed on unraveling the molecular basis of various forms of primary human immunodeficiencies. It is clear from recent studies that not only can different mutations give rise to different phenotypes but the same mutation may result in quite diverse clinical pictures. A correct diagnosis at the DNA level therefore becomes increasingly important in view of the possibility of gene therapy.

Agammaglobulinemia↗
PubMed1993

Interactions of indolo[3,2-b]carbazoles and related polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with specific binding sites for 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin in rat liver.

In the present study we have investigated the capacity of various compounds sterically related to indolo[3,2-b]carbazole to inhibit specific 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro[1,6-3H]dibenzo-p-dioxin binding in rat liver cytosol, as analyzed by electrofocusing in polyacrylamide gels. When the two nitrogen atoms of indolo[3,2-b]carbazole (IC50 = 3.6 nM) were replaced with sulfur atoms, the affinity for the specific binding sites (IC50 = 3.3 nM) was similar to that of the parent compound, whereas the affinity decreased when the two nitrogen atoms were replaced with oxygen atoms (IC50 = 29 nM). Substitution with methyl groups at positions 5 and 11 (on the nitrogens) of indolo[3,2-b]carbazole resulted in increased affinity (IC50 = 1.2 nM), compared with that of the parent compound, whereas dimethylation at the 4,10- or 2,8-positions decreased the affinity (IC50 = 19 nM and IC50 > 150 nM, respectively). Substitution at positions 5 and 11 of indolo[3,2-b]carbazole with substituents larger than methyl, as in 5,11-diethylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole (IC50 = 8.9 nM), diacetylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole (IC50 = 11.2 nM), 5,11-dibutylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole (IC50 > 150 nM), and 5,11-di(N,N-dimethylaminoethyl)indolo[3,2-b]carbazole (IC50 > 1500 nM), also decreased the affinity. Introduction of oxygen in, or hydroxylation of, the middle ring of indolo[3,2-b]carbazole, giving indolo[3,2-b]carbazole-6,12-quinone (IC50 > 150 nM) or 6,12-dihydroxyindolo[3,2-b]carbazole (IC50 > 1500 nM), respectively, also lowered the affinity. We calculated the Gibbs free energy of solvation of the analogue isoquino[3,4-b]phenanthridine (IC50 = 137 nM), relative to that of dibenz[a,h]anthracene (IC50 = 2.5 nM), in water to be -6 kcal/mol by free energy perturbation, which indicates that the most important explanation for the observed difference in binding affinity is the smaller difference in relative free energy of binding at the binding sites, compared with the Gibbs free energy of solvation of the two compounds.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Use of artificial intelligence in structure-affinity correlations of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) receptor ligands.

The Computer-Automated Structure Evaluation (CASE) Program, an expert system that automatically selects relevant descriptors for structure-activity relationships, has been used to analyze the binding of various ligands to the tetrachloro-dibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) receptor or Ah receptor. Two databases were analyzed. One database contained 136 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), substituted dibenzo-p-dioxins, dibenzofurans and biphenyls whose binding affinities were measured by a sucrose density gradient technique. The other 87 compound database contained PAH, nitro-PAH, halo-PAH and N-heterocycles. Their binding affinities were measured by the electrofocusing assay. Within each training set significant correlations between the affinity for the TCDD receptor and relevant molecular fragments identified by the CASE program were observed. Among the halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons, fragments containing lateral halogens and a longitudinal hydrogen appeared important for TCDD receptor binding. The fragments of PAH and heterocyclic compounds that were most activating with respect to TCDD receptor binding were found to contain the classical 'bay' region and were in fact identical to the fragments found previously to be related to carcinogenicity. It was found that the activating fragments from PAH and heterocyclic compounds were different from those found within the halogenated compounds such as dibenzo-p-dioxins, dibenzofurans and biphenyls. One interpretation of the data is that two different recognition sites may be involved in Ah receptor binding.

Artificial Intelligence↗
PubMed1990

Cloning, structure, and expression of a rat binding protein for polychlorinated biphenyls. Homology to the hormonally regulated progesterone-binding protein uteroglobin.

Certain metabolites of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are retained in the Clara cells and in the airway lumen of rodent lung due to their interaction with a secretory 13-kDa protein. Here, we report the isolation of a cDNA encoding the rat lung PCB-binding protein. The identity of the PCB-binding protein is supported by expression of the cDNA in Cos-1 cells where the homogenates from transfected cells show specific binding of 4,4'-bis([ 3H]methylsulfonyl)-2,2',5,5'-tetrachlorobiphenyl, a high affinity ligand for the PCB-binding protein. Also a monospecific antiserum to the PCB-binding protein recognizes a 13-kDa protein in the homogenates of transfected cells but not in the corresponding fraction of mock-transfected cells. Northern blot analysis of total RNA from different rat tissues demonstrates that the cDNA detects a approximately 600-base pair mRNA which appears to be solely expressed in lung. Interestingly, DNA sequence analysis and prediction of the amino acid sequence reveals that the PCB-binding protein shares 53% positional amino acid identity with uteroglobin, a progesterone-binding protein found in rabbit uterus and lung. Furthermore, amino acids shown by x-ray crystallography to delineate the central cavity of uteroglobin, which fits progesterone, are highly conserved in the two proteins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1989

Detection of specific binding of [1,6-3H]2,3,7,8-tetrachlordibenzo-p- dioxin ([3H]TCDD) in human leukocytes using electrofocusing in polyacrylamide gel.

The binding of [1,6-3H]2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin ([3H]TCDD) in human leukocyte cytosol has been studied using electrofocusing in polyacrylamide gel. One single peak of bound [3H]TCDD is found after completed focusing with an isoelectric point of 6.0. The binding capacity for 1.5 nM [3H]TCDD in the leukocyte cytosol was completely saturated by incubation in the presence of 150 nM unlabelled 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran. [3H]TCDD also binds to a single binding species in human serum and plasma which focuses at pH 5.2 and which is not saturated by the addition of a 100-fold excess of unlabelled 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran to the incubation. The levels of specific binding of [3H]TCDD in leukocytes from healthy blood donors ranged from 0 to 50 fmol/mg cytosolic protein.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed1989

Interactions of rutaecarpine alkaloids with specific binding sites for 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin in rat liver.

Rutaecarpine alkaloids have the capacity to inhibit specific 2,3,7,8-[1,6-3H]tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) binding in rat liver cytosol, as analysed by electrofocusing in polyacrylamide gel. The IC50 value for binding of 7,8-dehydrorutaecarpine was estimated to approximately 7 nM indicating a high-affinity interaction, whereas rutaecarpine appeared less active (IC50 approximately 110 nM). These findings are of interest in view of the fact that analogues to these compounds may be formed following UV-irradiation of tryptophan and that such photo-products have been suggested to constitute (the) endogenous ligand(s) for the TCDD receptor. As further support of this notion, the rutaecarpine alkaloids investigated could be fitted into a rectangle of 6.8 x 13.7 A, a characteristic common for most high affinity ligands of the TCDD receptor hitherto studied. In view of their structural similarity to dehydrorutaecarpine and the agreement of their mol. wt with that of the photoproduct with the highest affinity for the TCDD receptor, we suggest deaza-analogues of dehydrorutaecarpine to represent possible candidates for the endogenous TCDD receptor ligand.

Alkaloids↗
PubMed1988

The dioxin receptor: a comparison with the glucocorticoid receptor.

The physico-chemical properties of the dioxin and glucocorticoid receptors from rat liver and wild-type and mutant cell lines were investigated and compared. In rat liver, the receptors are virtually indistinguishable. Both are highly asymmetrical proteins with axial ratios of 12-15, have Stokes radii of 6 nm and sedimentation coefficients of approximately 4 S. This results in a calculated apparent mol. wt of approximately 100,000. The dioxin receptor from the mouse hepatoma cell line Hepa 1c1c7 represents an atypical form of the dioxin receptor with a pronounced tendency to aggregate to form Mr approximately equal to 300,000 complexes in high ionic strength and in the absence of sodium molybdate. In the presence of sulphydryl reducing agents, however, the Hepa 1c1c7 dioxin receptor dissociates to an Mr approximately 100,000 species. In analogy to the nt- mutant glucocorticoid receptor in mouse lymphoma cells, there is no gross change in the structure of the nt- dioxin mutant in mouse hepatoma cells compared with the wild-type receptor. The nt- dioxin receptor does, however, have a reduced affinity for DNA.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

The dioxin receptor: characterization of its DNA-binding properties.

The binding of the rat hepatic dioxin and glucocorticoid receptors to the polyanionic matrices heparin-Sepharose and DNA-cellulose in vitro and to cell nuclei in vivo was studied under various conditions. In a non-liganded and non-activated state both receptors eluted from heparin-Sepharose at a low ionic strength and were not retained on DNA-cellulose. Following ligandation and activation in vitro both receptors showed an increased affinity for heparin-Sepharose and were retained on DNA-cellulose. In analogy to these in vitro data, it was found that a high salt concentration (0.4 M KCl) was required to extract in vivo liganded dioxin receptor from purified nuclear preparations in contrast to that previously reported for non-liganded nuclear receptors. Limited proteolysis of both dioxin and glucocorticoid receptors resulted in molecular species of similar binding properties with regard to DNA-cellulose and heparin-Sepharose. We conclude that, in addition to the dioxin and glucocorticoid receptors showing considerable similarities in their physicochemical properties, they may also share a similar structural organization with regard to functional domains.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

The binding of methylsulfonyl-polychloro-biphenyls to uteroglobin.

The binding of methylsulfonyl-polychloro-biphenyls (methylsulfonyl-PCBs) to purified uteroglobin was studied by a dextran-coated charcoal assay using 4,4'-bis([ 3H]methylsulfonyl)-2,2',5,5'-tetrachlorobiphenyl [(3H-MeSO2)2TCB] as radiolabeled ligand. The specific binding of this ligand to uteroglobin was enhanced by the presence of dithiothreitol, and the optimal concentration of dithiothreitol for binding was 20 mM. The specific [(3H-MeSO2)2TCB] binding was inhibited by 4-methylsulfonyl-2,2',4',5,5'-pentachlorobiphenyl in a concentration-dependent manner. The molecular structures of methylsulfonyl-PCBs, and progesterone, were fitted into the X-ray crystallographic structure of uteroglobin using the molecular graphics program TOM. In these simulations the water-accessible surfaces of the ligands appeared quite similar, and fitted nicely in the internal water-accessible surface of uteroglobulin. Moreover, it appeared from the computer-supported ligand-binding studies that the sulfone oxygens of the studied methylsulfonyl-PCBs, as well as the carbonyl (C20) of progesterone, may form hydrogen bonds with the hydroxyl group of TYR 21 of uteroglobulin. These findings may explain why both steroids and methylsulfonyl-PCBs interact with the same protein, although these two types of ligands are structurally dissimilar.

Binding, Competitive↗
PubMed1988

Polyacrylamide concentration gradient gel electrophoresis of the 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) receptor in rat liver cytosol.

An assay based on polyacrylamide concentration gradient gel electrophoresis for the 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) receptor in rat liver cytosol was developed. [3H]TCDD-labeled cytosol was treated with dextran-coated charcoal and electrophoresed for 3000 Vh in polyacrylamide concentration gradient gels (T = 2.5-20%). A Tris-borate running buffer (pH 8.35) without salt and detergents was used. When the polyacrylamide concentration gradient was concave a linear calibration curve of log molecular weight vs. migration distance was obtained for the standard proteins used. Under these conditions the Mr value of the TCDD receptor from rat liver cytosol was estimated to be 316,000 +/- 27,000 before, and 246,000 +/- 12,000 after limited proteolysis. The Bmax for the specific binding of [3H]TCDD was between 35 and 43 fmol/mg cytosolic protein and the Kd of the binding ranged from 0.8 to 1.1 nM, as judged by saturation and Scatchard analysis.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Uptake and specific binding of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin in the olfactory mucosa of mice and rats.

Whole-body autoradiography of mice and rats after i.v. administration of 2,3,7,8-[14C]tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin ([14C]TCDD) showed a selective localization of radioactivity in the liver and nasal olfactory mucosa. In microautoradiograms of solvent extracted sections of the skulls of mice given injections of [3H]TCDD, no radioactivity was observed in the olfactory mucosa, suggesting that TCDD is not covalently bound in this tissue. The amount of specific [3H]TCDD binding sites in cytosol from the ethmoturbinates of rats (33 fmol/mg cytosolic protein) was comparable to that of the liver cytosol as estimated by electrophoresis in polyacrylamide concentration gradient gel, and therefore probably too low to explain the retention of radioactivity in the olfactory mucosa. The specific TCDD binding species in the mucosa of the ethmoturbinates exhibited a similar binding affinity for [3H]TCDD, ligand specificity, and molecular weight as the TCDD receptor from rat liver. The 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase activity of the mucosa of the ethmoturbinates was induced less than twice by administration of the TCDD receptor ligand beta-naphthoflavone (5,6-benzoflavone) 40 h before killing. By administration of beta-naphthoflavone (5,6-benzoflavone) 16 h before killing, mRNA coding for cytochrome P-450d but not for cytochrome P-450c was induced to detectable levels in the mucosa of the ethmoturbinal tissue of the rat. The basal activity of 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation of the mucosa of the ethmoturbinates of the rat was comparable to the corresponding activity of the liver. This basal metabolic activity of the ethmoturbinal tissue was only marginally inhibited by antibodies raised against beta-naphthoflavone (5,6-benzoflavone) induced hepatic cytochrome P-450s. Thus, enzymes other than cytochrome P-450c may possibly account for a part of the basal 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase activity in the rodent olfactory mucosa.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Characterization of the DNA-binding properties of the receptor for 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin.

The DNA-binding properties of the receptor for 2,3,7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) were investigated using chromatography on DNA-cellulose columns. A maximal binding of about 40% of the total receptor complex to DNA-cellulose was observed. In order to interact with DNA, the receptor must first bind TCDD. A heat-activation step followed by gel permeation chromatography using Sephadex G-25 increased the binding of the cytosolic receptor to DNA. The DNA-binding ability of the receptor was almost lost following mild proteolysis using trypsin or alpha-chymotrypsin, although these treatments did not reduce its ligand binding capacity and had no apparent effect on its size. Furthermore, pre-treatment of the DNA-cellulose column with an intercalating drug, ethidium bromide, resulted in inhibition of the binding of the TCDD-receptor complex to DNA, indicating that not only electrostatic interactions but also the configuration of DNA are of importance in receptor-DNA interactions.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Interactions of indoles with specific binding sites for 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin in rat liver.

In order to identify some of the structural requirements for binding of indoles to the receptor for 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), we have investigated the capacity of various indoles to inhibit specific [1,6-3H]TCDD binding in rat liver cytosol, as analyzed by electrofocusing in polyacrylamide gel. Of these indoles, indolo[3,2-b]carbazole was the most active. The IC50 value for receptor binding of indolo[3,2-b]carbazole as well as for 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran was 3.6 nM, whereas that of 5,6-benzoflavone was 26 nM. Both indolo[3,2-b]carbazole and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran competitively inhibited the binding of [3H]TCDD to the receptor. The well-known microsomal enzyme inducer 3,3'-diindolymethane did not interact significantly with the TCDD receptor. Previous concepts of structure-activity relationships for binding of chlorinated dioxins to the TCDD receptor fail to account for the receptor binding of unhalogenated aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase inducers such as 5,6-benzoflavone. We have instead considered the true three-dimensional space occupied by some receptor ligands by means of a computer using crystallographic data as inputs. When the atomic van der Waals radii were included, all potent receptor ligands studied could be fitted into a rectangle of 6.8 X 13.7 A.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Physicochemical characterization of specific and nonspecific polyaromatic hydrocarbon binders in rat and mouse liver cytosol.

The aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase inducers 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), 3-methylcholanthrene, and benzo(a)pyrene were all shown to bind in a saturable manner to a distinct component in cytosol from both rat and C57BL/6J mouse liver. This component was analyzed by gel permeation chromatography on Sephacryl S-300 and by sucrose density gradient centrifugation and was found to have a Stokes radius of 61 +/- 1.5 A and a sedimentation coefficient of 4.4 S under high salt conditions. Based on these parameters, which were identical for the rat and mouse receptor, a molecular weight of 111,000 was calculated. The same Stokes radius and sedimentation coefficient were observed regardless of the ligand used for labeling of the receptor protein [(3H]TCDD, 3-[3H]methylcholanthrene or [3H]benzo(a)pyrene). On the other hand, 3-[3H]methylcholanthrene and [3H]benzo(a)-pyrene exhibited much more nonspecific binding than [3H]TCDD, at least partially due to contaminating serum components, and it cannot be excluded that some previous findings on low molecular weight hepatic "receptors" for these polyaromatic hydrocarbons may actually be explained in this way. Clearly, use of thoroughly perfused livers would seem to be a prerequisite for investigations on specific binding of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase inducers to liver cytosol. The rat hepatic TCDD receptor was also shown to be retained on DEAE-Sepharose (eluted at 0.2-0.3 M NaCl), hydroxylapatite (eluted at 0.15-0.17 M phosphate), and heparin-Sepharose (eluted at 0.3-0.4 M NaCl). In conclusion, the TCDD receptor showed similar physicochemical and chromatographic characteristics to those previously reported for the androgen and glucocorticoid receptors. However, ligand competition experiments indicated that the TCDD receptor is not identical to any steroid receptor. In line with this, monoclonal anti-glucocorticoid receptor-IgG antibodies did not react with the TCDD receptor.

Animals↗