Cytoplasmic estrogen receptor system of gilt uterus. Partial purification of component B labeled with [14C]iodoacetic acid.

Abstract

Analysis of the cytoplasmic estrogen receptor (ER) system of gilt uterus by protecting ER from proteolysis showed that the ER system of gilt uterus is similar to that of cow uterus described previously. There was only one native unit molecule [native "4S" ER (sedimentation coefficient, 4.5S; Stokes radius, 45 A; molecular weight, 82,000)] with specific affinity towards estradiol. This molecule was further designated as vero-ER. "8S" ER-forming factor [("8S"ER)-FF] (Stokes radius, 51 A) was separated from the cytosol under hypotonic (low salt) conditions, and this was further dissociated into component A ["5S" ER-forming factor, ("5S"ER)-FF] (Stokes radius, 37 A) and component B (Stokes radius, 18.5 A) in the presence of sodium thiocyanate. Vero-ER was proteolyzed in the absence of Ca2+ ion by a cytoplasmic protease into modified "4S" ER (sedimentation coefficient, 4.5S; Stokes radius, 35 A; molecular weight, 65,000) which was further designated as secto-ER. The constituents of the cytoplasmic ER system of cow and gilt uteri cross-reacted with each other to undergo similar molecular assembly as in their own systems. When analyzed for various uterine specimens, fluctuation of ("8S"ER)-FF-level (1-50 unit/g tissue) was more remarkable than that of ER-level (3-6 x (10(-12) mol/g tissue). Component B labeled with [14C]iodoacetic acid was purified over 1,500-fold. Mixture of vero-ER and component B labeled with [14C]iodoacetic acid formed "6S' ER with 14C-activities under hypotonic conditions. This clearly excluded the possibility that component B is a catalyzer of self-association (dimerization) of vero-ER.