John D. Norris

Dissection of the LXXLL Nuclear Receptor-Coactivator Interaction Motif Using Combinatorial Peptide Libraries: Discovery of Peptide Antagonists of Estrogen Receptors α and β

ABSTRACT Recruitment of transcriptional coactivators following ligand activation is a critical step in nuclear receptor-mediated target gene expression. Upon binding an agonist, the receptor undergoes a conformational change which facilitates the formation of a specific coactivator binding pocket within the carboxyl terminus of the receptor. This permits the α-helical LXXLL motif within some coactivators to interact with the nuclear receptors. Until recently, the LXXLL motif was thought to function solely as a docking module; however, it now appears that sequences flanking the core motif may play a role in determining receptor selectivity. To address this issue, we used a combinatorial phage display approach to evaluate the role of flanking sequences in influencing these interactions. We sampled more than 108 variations of the core LXXLL motif with estradiol-activated estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) as a target and found three different classes of peptides. All of these peptides interacted with ERα in an agonist-dependent manner and disrupted ERα-mediated transcriptional activity when introduced into target cells. Using a series of ERα-mutants, we found that these three classes of peptides showed different interaction patterns from each other, suggesting that not all LXXLL motifs are the same and that receptor binding selectivity can be achieved by altering sequences flanking the LXXLL core motif. Most notable in this regard was the discovery of a peptide which, when overexpressed in cells, selectively disrupted ERβ- but not ERα-mediated reporter gene expression. This novel ERβ-specific antagonist may be useful in identifying and characterizing the ERβ-regulated process in estradiol-responsive cells. In conclusion, using a combinatorial approach to define cofactor-receptor interactions, we have clearly been able to demonstrate that not all LXXLL motifs are functionally equivalent, a finding which suggests that it may be possible to target receptor-LXXLL interactions to develop receptor-specific antagonists.

The Nuclear Corepressors NCoR and SMRT Are Key Regulators of Both Ligand- and 8-Bromo-Cyclic AMP-Dependent Transcriptional Activity of the Human Progesterone Receptor

ABSTRACT Previously, we defined a novel class of ligands for the human progesterone receptor (PR) which function as mixed agonists. These compounds induce a conformational change upon binding the receptor that is different from those induced by agonists and antagonists. This establishes a correlation between the structure of a ligand-receptor complex and its transcriptional activity. In an attempt to define the cellular components which distinguish between different ligand-induced PR conformations, we have determined, by using a mammalian two-hybrid assay, that the nuclear receptor corepressor (NCoR) and the silencing mediator for retinoid and thyroid hormone receptor (SMRT) differentially associate with PR depending upon the class of ligand bound to the receptor. Specifically, we observed that the corepressors preferentially associate with antagonist-occupied PR and that overexpression of these corepressors suppresses the partial agonist activity of antagonist-occupied PR. Binding studies performed in vitro, however, reveal that recombinant SMRT can interact with PR in a manner which is not influenced by the nature of the bound ligand. Thus, the inability of SMRT or NCoR to interact with agonist-activated PR when assayed in vivo may relate more to the increased affinity of PR for coactivators, with a subsequent displacement of corepressors, than to an inherent low affinity for the corepressor proteins. Previous work from other groups has shown that 8-bromo-cyclic AMP (8-bromo-cAMP) can convert the PR antagonist RU486 into an agonist and, additionally, can potentiate the transcriptional activity of agonist-bound PR. In this study, we show that exogenous expression of NCoR or SMRT suppresses all 8-bromo-cAMP-mediated potentiation of PR transcriptional activity. Further analysis revealed that 8-bromo-cAMP addition decreases the association of NCoR and SMRT with PR. Thus, we propose that 8-bromo-cAMP-mediated potentiation of PR transcriptional activity is due, at least in part, to a disruption of the interaction between PR and the corepressors NCoR and SMRT. Cumulatively, these results suggest that NCoR and SMRT expression may play a pivotal role in PR pharmacology.

Comparative Analyses of Mechanistic Differences Among Antiestrogens

Antiestrogens such as tamoxifen are one of the most effective methods of treating estrogen receptor (ERa) positive breast cancers; however, the effectiveness of this therapy is limited by the almost universal development of resistance to the drug. If antiestrogens are recognized differently by the cell as it has been suggested, then in disease conditions where tamoxifen fails to function effectively, a mechanistically different antiestrogen might yield successful results. Although many antiestrogens have been developed, a direct comparison of their mechanisms of action is lacking, thus limiting their utility. Therefore, to determine if there are mechanistic differences among available antiestrogens, we have carried out a comprehensive analysis of the molecular mechanisms of action of 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen (4OHT), idoxifene, raloxifene, GW7604, and ICI 182,780. Using a novel set of peptides that recognize different surfaces on ERa ,w e have found that following binding to ERa, each ligand induces a distinct ERa-ligand conformation. Furthermore, transcriptional assays indicate that each ERa-ligand complex is recognized distinctly by the transcription machinery, and consequently, antiestrogens vary in their ability to inhibit estradiol- and 4OHT-mediated activities. Relative binding assays have shown that the affinity of these ligands for ERa is not always representative of their inhibitory activity. Using this assay, we have also shown that the pharmacology of each antiestrogen is influenced differently by hormone binding proteins. Furthermore, GW7604, like ICI 182,780, but unlike the other antiestrogens evaluated, decreases the stability of the receptor. Overall, our results indicate that there are clear mechanistic distinctions among each of the antiestrogens studied. However, GW7604 and ICI 182,780 differ more significantly from tamoxifen than idoxifene and raloxifene. These data, which reveal differences among antiestrogens, should assist in the selection of compounds for the clinical regulation of ERa function. (Endocrinology 140: 5828 ‐5840, 1999)

Modulation of Estrogen Receptor-α Transcriptional Activity by the Coactivator PGC-1

A transcriptional coactivator of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ), PPARγ-coactivator-1(PGC-1) interacts in a constitutive manner with the hinge domain of PPARγ and enhances its transcriptional activity. In this study we demonstrate that PGC-1 is a coactivator of estrogen receptor-α (ERα)-dependent transcriptional activity. However the mechanism by which PGC-1 interacts with ERα is different from that of PPARγ. Specifically, it was determined that the carboxyl terminus of PGC-1 interacts in a ligand-independent manner with the ERα hinge domain. In addition, an LXXLL motif within the amino terminus of PGC-1 was shown to interact in an agonist-dependent manner with the AF2 domain within the carboxyl terminus of ERα. The ability of PGC-1 to associate with and potentiate the transcriptional activity of an ERα-AF2 mutant that is unable to interact with the p160 class of coactivators suggests that this coactivator may have a unique role in estrogen signaling. It is concluded from these studies that PGC-1 is a bona fideERα coactivator, which may serve as a convergence point between PPARγ and ERα signaling.

The Homeodomain Protein HOXB13 Regulates the Cellular Response to Androgens

HOXB13 is a member of the homeodomain family of sequence-specific transcription factors and, together with the androgen receptor (AR), plays a critical role in the normal development of the prostate gland. We demonstrate here that, in prostate cancer cells, HOXB13 is a key determinant of the response to androgens. Specifically, it was determined that HOXB13 interacts with the DNA-binding domain of AR and inhibits the transcription of genes that contain an androgen-response element (ARE). In contrast, the AR:HOXB13 complex confers androgen responsiveness to promoters that contain a specific HOXB13-response element. Further, HOXB13 and AR synergize to enhance the transcription of genes that contain a HOX element juxtaposed to an ARE. The profound effects of HOXB13 knockdown on androgen-regulated proliferation, migration, and lipogenesis in prostate cancer cells highlight the importance of the observed changes in gene expression.

Development of a small molecule serum and glucocorticoid-regulated kinase 1 antagonist and its evaluation as a prostate cancer therapeutic

Androgens, through their actions on the androgen receptor (AR), are required for the development of the prostate and contribute to the pathologic growth dysregulation observed in prostate cancers. Consequently, androgen ablation has become an essential component of the pharmacotherapy of prostate cancer. In this study, we explored the utility of targeting processes downstream of AR as an alternate approach for therapy. Specifically, we show that the serum and glucocorticoid-regulated kinase 1 (SGK1) gene is an androgen-regulated target gene in cellular models of prostate cancer. Furthermore, functional serum- and glucocorticoid-regulated kinase 1 (SGK1) protein, as determined by the phosphorylation of its target Nedd4-2, was also increased with androgen treatment. Importantly, we determined that RNA interference-mediated knockdown of SGK1 expression attenuates the androgen-mediated growth of the prostate cancer cell line LNCaP. Given these findings, we explored the utility of SGK1 as a therapeutic target in prostate cancer by developing and evaluating a small-molecule inhibitor of this enzyme. From these studies emerged GSK650394, a competitive inhibitor that quantitatively blocks the effect of androgens on LNCaP cell growth. Thus, in addition to androgen ablation, inhibition of pathways downstream of AR is likely to have therapeutic utility in prostate cancer.

BRCA1 expression is not directly responsive to estrogen

Expression of the breast cancer susceptibility gene, BRCA1, is induced by 17-β estradiol (E2) in estrogen receptor containing breast cancer cell lines. Our previous studies have shown that BRCA1 transcription is also regulated with the cell cycle, reaching maximal levels just before the onset of DNA synthesis. In this study, we have examined whether the estrogen induction of BRCA1 is direct or is a result of the mitogenic activity of the hormone. Four lines of evidence lead us to conclude that E2 induces BRCA1 primarily through an increase in DNA synthesis: (1) The kinetics and magnitude of induction are different from the directly E2 inducible gene, pS2; (2) Induction of BRCA1, but not pS2, is blocked by cycloheximide indicating that de novo protein synthesis is required; (3) Other hormonal and growth factor treatments that induce DNA synthesis have a similar effect, including IGF-1, EGF and DNA synthetic flares induced by tamoxifen and retinoic acid; (4) BRCA1 genomic fragments near the 5′ end of the gene containing putative estrogen response elements fail to respond to E2 when transfected into breast cancer cell lines. The most consistent explanation for these findings and other published studies is that BRCA1 transcription is induced as a result of the mitogenic activity of E2 in estrogen receptor positive cells.

Bisphenol A affects androgen receptor function via multiple mechanisms

Bisphenol A (BPA), is a well-known endocrine disruptor compound (EDC) that affects the normal development and function of the female and male reproductive system, however the mechanisms of action remain unclear. To investigate the molecular mechanisms of how BPA may affect ten different nuclear receptors, stable cell lines containing individual nuclear receptor ligand binding domain (LBD)-linked to the β-Gal reporter were examined by a quantitative high throughput screening (qHTS) format in the Tox21 Screening Program of the NIH. The results showed that two receptors, estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and androgen receptor (AR), are affected by BPA in opposite direction. To confirm the observed effects of BPA on ERα and AR, we performed transient transfection experiments with full-length receptors and their corresponding response elements linked to luciferase reporters. We also included in this study two BPA analogs, bisphenol AF (BPAF) and bisphenol S (BPS). As seen in African green monkey kidney CV1 cells, the present study confirmed that BPA and BPAF act as ERα agonists (half maximal effective concentration EC50 of 10-100 nM) and as AR antagonists (half maximal inhibitory concentration IC50 of 1-2 μM). Both BPA and BPAF antagonized AR function via competitive inhibition of the action of synthetic androgen R1881. BPS with lower estrogenic activity (EC50 of 2.2 μM), did not compete with R1881 for AR binding, when tested at 30 μM. Finally, the effects of BPA were also evaluated in a nuclear translocation assays using EGPF-tagged receptors. Similar to 17β-estradiol (E2) which was used as control, BPA was able to enhance ERα nuclear foci formation but at a 100-fold higher concentration. Although BPA was able to bind AR, the nuclear translocation was reduced. Furthermore, BPA was unable to induce functional foci in the nuclei and is consistent with the transient transfection study that BPA is unable to activate AR.

Elucidation of the molecular mechanism of action of selective estrogen receptor modulators

The term selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) describes a group of pharmaceuticals that manifest estrogen receptor (ER) agonist activity in some tissues but opposes estrogen action in others. Although the name describing this class of drugs is new, the concept is not, as compounds exhibiting tissue-selective ER agonist/antagonist properties have been available for nearly 40 years. What is new is the idea that it may be possible to capitalize on the paradoxical activities of SERMs and develop them as target organ-selective ER agonists for the treatment of osteoporosis and other estrogenopathies. This realization has provided the impetus for research in this area, the progress of which is described in this review.

Induction of Krüppel-Like Factor 5 Expression by Androgens Results in Increased CXCR4-Dependent Migration of Prostate Cancer Cells in Vitro

Advanced prostate cancers preferentially metastasize to bone, suggesting that this tissue produces factors that provide a suitable microenvironment for prostate cancer cells. Recently, it has become clear that even in antiandrogen-resistant cancers, the androgen receptor (AR)-signaling axis is required for prostate cancer progression. Therefore, we hypothesized that AR may be involved in the regulation of pathways that are responsible for the homing of prostate cancer cells to select microenvironments. In support of this hypothesis, we have determined that chemokine (C-X-C motif) receptor 4 (CXCR4), the receptor for the chemokine CXCL12, is up-regulated in prostate cancer cells in response to androgens. Given that the levels of CXCL12 are elevated at sites of known prostate cancer metastases such as bone, these results suggest that androgens may influence prostate cancer metastasis. Specifically, we demonstrate that androgens increase the levels of both CXCR4 mRNA and functional protein in LNCaP prostate cancer cells. Importantly, androgens enhanced the migration of LNCaP cells toward a CXCL12 gradient, an effect that could be blocked by the specific CXCR4 antagonist AMD3100. Interestingly, CXCR4 is not directly regulated by androgens but rather is positively up-regulated by Krüppel-like factor 5 (KLF5), a transcription factor that we have shown to be an early, direct target of AR. Further, KLF5 is both required and sufficient for androgen-mediated CXCR4 expression and migration toward CXCL12. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that AR can utilize the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis through induction of KLF5 expression to promote prostate cancer progression and highlight the potential utility of CXCR4 antagonists as prostate cancer therapeutics.