Study of the role of histidyl, tyrosyl, α- or ε-amino residues in the specific binding of 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine to rat liver nuclear receptors

Abstract

The role of histidyl, tyrosyl, alpha-or epsilon-amino residues of rat liver nuclear receptors for the specific binding of T3 was studied by chemically modifying the receptor molecule. The kinetics of the formation of N-carbethoxyhistidyl derivative from histidyl groups of nuclear receptors by diethylpyrocarbonate was examined. The modified nuclear receptor fraction was separated from diethylpyrocarbonate by gel filtration and the T3 binding parameters (Ka and MBC) at pH 8.0 were tested by Scatchard plot analysis. At 0.1 mmol/l diethypyrocarbonate, the value of Ka was significantly (P less than 0.01) decreased without any change in maximal binding capacity (MBC). The modification of alpha- or epsilon-amino groups of nuclear receptors by excess of trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid, 6.3 mmol/l at pH 8.5, resulted in a 4-fold increase in MBC of T3 specific binding without any change in Ka. In addition, acetylation of tyrosyl residues of nuclear receptors at pH 7.5 with an excess of 24 mmol/l N-acetylimidazole was performed. No changes in nuclear receptor Ka or MBC were observed after N-acetylimidazole treatment. Histidine and/or amino groups of the receptor molecule seem to hold a key position in the generation of the biologically active T3-nuclear receptor complex in the rat liver.