Receptors - Leid Flashcards
Steroid, thyroid hormones, PPAR-y and vitamin A receptors act in similar or dissimilar ways?
Similar, although the ligands are very diverse.
There is a centrally-located DNA binding domain. Recognize sequence of about 13-18 nucleotides in the genome, and bind to that sequence specifically.
If you compare human glucocorticoid receptors to vitamin A drosophila receptors there is 70% similarity.
Two points about conservation of binding domains on receptors.
- DNA binding domain is highly conserved
2. Ligand binding domain is less conserved
What is the basis for most drug interactions?
The ability of drugs to activate or inhibit SXR, which is related to 3A4 activity.
Where are hormone receptors located?
Nuclear receptors are located in the nuclear, and not associated with any membranes at all.
DNA binding domain
- Bind to DNA in a sequence-specific manner on the promoter region.
- crucial because we want estrogen receptor that estrogens are supposed to regulate. This is all encoded by the DNA binding domain.
- Specific base pair contact is required.
- Can also piggy-back on top of proteins that are bound to DNA.
What do hormone receptors bind to?
They bind to the promoter region of the gene, directly, to regulate transcription.
- Then we transcribe the nuclear mRNA into protein coding regions called exons, and non-coding regions called introns.
- During translation we take out the introns and make the proteins.
How do drugs affect gene expression?
The cause gene expression.
Compare the dimerization of estrogen and thyroid hormone.
Homodimers - 1 molecule of estrogen receptor and 1 molecule of estrogen receptor
Heterodimer - 1 molecule of thyroid receptor and 1 molecule of vitamin A receptor
How are the alpha helices situated in the hormone dimers?
They are situated perpendicular to each other.
There is a support helix and recognition helix in each monomer. The support helix interacts with recognition helix, but not the DNA.
PPARy and RXR are heterodimers with each other.
Each monomer interacts with their own DNA binding domains in a major groove.
How does the sequence differ depending on the dimer?
Estrogen receptor homodimer has a palindromic sequence that it binds to. The “half site” sequence is the same (the first half) and the second is a mirror image.
The heterodimers
The major dimerization interface is in the ligand binding domain.
So
What interacts more between the dimers, the DNA binding domain or the ligand binding domain?
The ligand binding domain. There are weak interactions in the DNA binding domain.
These receptors bind to DNA in a sequence-specific manner, and are able to pick out 13 nucleotides out of your genes. Very important.
TATA box
most eukaryotic genes do not have TATA boxes (<50%), but most prokaryotic genes have these.
Still requires TATA factors for transcription to occur
If it has, then it is within 30 bps
GC box
Rich in Gs and Cs
CAAT box
Enhancer protein binds to the CAAT box. These are farther upstream than TATA (w/i 200 bps)
Silencers and Enhancers
- Silence or enhance genes
- Work in a distance-dependent manner - they are way out there
- They may loop back and touch where mRNA is made
What do hormone receptors do?
They are going to affect the transcription of the gene in either a negative or positive way. mRNA will be made or not.
How do we get all of these proteins to come to the template and make mRNA when they are wrapped up in histones?
Activated nuclear receptors enhance the formation of PIC.
PIC
Pre-initiation complex, containing 44 different proteins.
Assemble PIC at the start site of transcription
RNA polymerase
What is the rate-limiting step of transcription?
Assembly of the PIC
What is DNA wrapped around?
Histone octamer
What is the function of H1?
It is the stabilizing histone of the histone octamer that binds like a staple to the DNA around the histones.
What are on the histone tails?
They are rich in lysine and arginines, which are subject to postranslational modifications such as acetylation and methylation.
Lysine charge normal, with acetylation.
Tails of histones
Positive charge at physiological pH because of amine
Amine, when acetylated, becomes an amid. Charge is 0.
DNA charge
Anionic polymer, with a negative charge.
What happens to the charge of the histones when the lysine are acetylated?
It becomes more neutral, which means that the DNA lets go of the histones.
What happens when lysine is methylated?
Nothing. The charge is still positive. No histone interactions.
Methylation forms a binding site for proteins that bind methylated lysines or arginines specifically (enhance recruitment of PIC to template)
Possibly more important than charge thing.
Hormone receptors will influence post-translational modifications, acetylation and methylation of histones that are associated with DNA and accelerate formation of the PIC.
A little more complicated because these modifications are reversible.
Acetyltransferases
Add acetyl group
Methyltransferases
Add methyl group
Deacetylases
Remove acetyl group
Demethylases
Removes methyl group
What modifications are negative for transcription?
Deacetylase
What modifications are negative for transcription?
Deacetylase
Epigenetic modulation
Changing the proteins associated with DNA to change how the DNA is read. This is crucial.
What are the effects of epigenetic modifications?
They change the way the genome is read
They are passed down from generation to generation
Changes in the histone code is a major mechanism that leads to the development of disease
Same as histone code
What is the only covalent modification of DNA that we know of?
Methylation
What are the three processes of histone modifications?
Write the code (writers)
Read the code (readers)
Erase the code (erasers)
Acetyltransferase
Writer
Place acetyl group on lysine
Methyltransferase
Writer
Methylate lysine or arginines
Kinase
Writer
Phosphorylate serine residues on histone tails
Ub E3 ligases
Writer
Place ubiquitin on lysine
Bromodomains
Reader - A protein with a bromodomain sequence
Bind to acetylated lysines. These are part of the PIC
Chromodomains
Reader
Proteins that contain chromodomains bind to methylated lysines
Tudor domains
Reader
WD40
Reader
Deacetylases
Eraser
Remove acetyl groups
Demethylases
Eraser
Remove methyl groups
Phosphatases
Eraser
Remove phosphate groups