An Antidiabetic Thiazolidinedione Is a High Affinity Ligand for Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptor γ (PPARγ)

The three-dimensional structure of human serum albumin has been determined crystallographically to a resolution of 2.8 A. It comprises three homologous domains that assemble to form a heart-shaped molecule. Each domain is a product of two subdomains that possess common structural motifs. The principal regions of ligand binding to human serum albumin are located in hydrophobic cavities in subdomains IIA and IIIA, which exhibit similar chemistry. The structure explains numerous physical phenomena and should provide insight into future pharmacokinetic and genetically engineered therapeutic applications of serum albumin.

Atomic structure and chemistry of human serum albumin.

Stimulation of adipogenesis in fibroblasts by PPAR gamma 2, a lipid-activated transcription factor.

I. Introduction II. Molecular Aspects A. PPAR isotypes: identity, genomic organization and chromosomal localization B. DNA binding properties C. PPAR ligand-binding properties D. Alternative pathways for PPAR activation E. PPAR-mediated transactivation properties III. Physiological Aspects A. Differential expression of PPAR mRNAs B. PPAR target genes and functions in fatty acid metabolism C. PPARs and control of inflammatory responses D. PPARs and atherosclerosis E. PPARs and the development of the fetal epidermal permeability barrier F. PPARs, carcinogenesis, and control of the cell cycle IV. Conclusions

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors: nuclear control of metabolism.

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an insight of the findings of past significant papers with the current knowledge of the recently determined high resolution X-ray structure of serum albumin. The most outstanding property of albumin is its ability to bind reversibly an incredible variety of ligands. The sequences of all albumins are characterized by a unique arrangement of disulfide double loops that repeat as a series of triplets. Albumin belongs to a multigene family of proteins that includes α- fetoprotein (AFP) and vitamin D-binding protein (VDP), also known as G complement (Gc) protein. Although AFP is considered the fetal counterpart of albumin, its binding properties are distinct and it is suggested that AFP may have a higher affinity for some unknown ligands important for fetal development. Domain structure and the arrangement of the disulfides, the surface charge distribution, and the conformational flexibility of the albumin molecule are described. The nature of ligand binding, including small organics, long-chain fatty acids, and metals, to multiple sites on the albumin molecule is clearly depicted. The chapter concludes with the perceptive comments on future directions being taken to explore the structure and function of this fascinating protein.

Structure of serum albumin.

We have identified and cloned a novel member of the nuclear receptor superfamily. The cDNA was isolated from a mouse brain cDNA library and encodes a protein 598 amino acids in length with a predicted mol wt of 66 kilodaltons. The amino acid sequence of the protein is closely related to an additional family member and immediate early gene product, Nur77, and the novel factor is referred to as Nurr1 (Nur-related factor 1). The relationship between Nurr1 and Nur77 suggests that these proteins constitute an additional subfamily within the nuclear receptor superfamily. Like Nur77, the expression of Nurr1 is induced by membrane depolarization of PC12 cells. However, while Nur77 shows an early transcriptional response to nerve growth factor stimulation, the failure of Nurr1 to respond to this agent suggests a differential selectivity of the two proteins in terms of their transcriptional responses to specific stimuli. Finally, both proteins are differentially expressed during development and in tissues of the ad...

Identification of a new brain-specific transcription factor, NURR1.

The complete nucleotide sequence of human serum albumin mRNA has been determined from recombinant cDNA clones and from a primer-extended cDNA synthesis on the mRNA template. The sequence is composed of 2078 nucleotides, starting upstream from a potential ribosome binding site in the 5' untranslated region. It contains all the translated codons and extends into the poly(A) at the 3' terminus. Part of the translated sequence codes for a hydrophobic prepeptide, Met-Lys-Trp-Val-Thr-Phe-Ile-Ser-Leu-Leu-Phe-Leu-Phe-Ser-Ser-Ala-Tyr-Ser, followed by a basic propeptide, Arg-Gly-Val-Phe-Arg-Arg. These signal peptides are absent from mature normal serum albumin and, so far, have not been identified in their nascent state in humans. A remaining 1755 nucleotides of the translated mRNA sequence code for 585 amino acids, which are in agreement, with few exceptions, with the published amino acid sequence for human serum albumin. The mRNA sequence verifies and refines the repeating homology in the triple-domain structure of the serum albumin molecule.

https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/79/1/71.full.pdf

Nucleotide sequence and the encoded amino acids of human serum albumin mRNA

To test further the idea that sexual behavior in rodents is mediated via the progesterone receptor (PR) in the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus, antisense and sense oligonucleotides to progesterone receptor were administered intracerebroventricularly into the third cerebral ventricle of ovariectomized estrogen-primed animals. Progesterone-facilitated sexual behavior was inhibited in animals treated with antisense oligonucleotides, with proceptive and receptive responses being minimal or completely suppressed. Sexual behavior was not altered by control sense oligonucleotides. In vitro binding assays of the cytosol progesterone receptors demonstrated a 52.2% reduction of PRs in the hypothalamus of animals that received antisense oligonucleotides, suggesting a reduction in PR synthesis. These data suggest that a threshold level of estrogen-induced hypothalamic PR is critical in the regulation of progesterone-facilitated sexual behavior in female rats.

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Inhibition of rat sexual behavior by antisense oligonucleotides to the progesterone receptor.

We have cloned a novel member of the nuclear receptor superfamily that has been identified from complementary DNA libraries derived from mouse tissues using a low stringency cross hybridization strategy. The deduced protein sequence contains 495 amino acids and consists of the characteristic DNA-binding and ligand-binding domains of the nuclear receptor superfamily. The primary sequence of this new orphan is distinct from those of previously cloned members and subgroups. Analysis of the DNA-binding properties of the in vitro synthesized protein revealed that this new orphan receptor binds to the sequence TCAAGGTCA that includes the steroidogenic factor-1 half-site and direct repeat with 0 bp spacing elements. Northern blot and ribonuclease protection assays showed that the receptor was predominantly expressed in the testis. Results from in situ hybridization experiments confirmed this observation and showed it to be located in the spermatogenic cells. High level expression was also detected in developing oocytes in the ovary. Thus, high level expression of this gene is restricted to developing germ cells, the oocytes and spermatogenic cells. We speculate that this orphan receptor may be a molecule involved in regulating some aspect of meiosis, and that the major function of this factor is likely to be involved in the regulation of gene expression in germ cell development during gametogenesis. It has been designated germ cell nuclear factor.

/pdf/cloning-of-a-novel-orphan-receptor-gcnf-expressed-during-3pgvtui071.pdf

Simon W. Law

Papers

Identification of a new brain-specific transcription factor, NURR1.

Nucleotide sequence and the encoded amino acids of human serum albumin mRNA

Inhibition of rat sexual behavior by antisense oligonucleotides to the progesterone receptor.

Cloning of a novel orphan receptor (GCNF) expressed during germ cell development.

Identification of two mPPAR related receptors and evidence for the existence of five subfamily members.