Calmodulin Lobes Facilitate Dimerization and Activation of Estrogen Receptor-Alpha

Authors

Zhigang Li
Yonghong Zhang, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Andrew C. Hedman
James B. Ames
David B. Sacks

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-17-2017

Abstract

Estrogen receptor α (ER-α) is a nuclear hormone receptor that controls selected genes, thereby regulating proliferation and differentiation of target tissues, such as breast. Gene expression controlled by ER-α is modulated by Ca²⁺ via calmodulin (CaM). Here we present the NMR structure of Ca²⁺-CaM bound to two molecules of ER-α (residues 287–305). The two lobes of CaM bind to the same site on two separate ER-α molecules (residues 292, 296, 299, 302, and 303), which explains why CaM binds two molecules of ER-α in a 1:2 complex and stabilizes ER-α dimerization. Exposed glutamate residues in CaM (Glu-11, Glu-14, Glu-84, and Glu-87) form salt bridges with key lysine residues in ER-α (Lys-299, Lys-302, and Lys-303), which is likely to prevent ubiquitination at these sites and inhibit degradation of ER-α. Transfection of cells with full-length CaM slightly increased the ability of estrogen to enhance transcriptional activation by ER-α of endogenous estrogen-responsive genes. By contrast, expression of either the N- or C-lobe of CaM abrogated estrogen-stimulated transcription of the estrogen responsive genes pS2 and progesterone receptor. These data suggest that CaM-induced dimerization of ER-α is required for estrogen-stimulated transcriptional activation by the receptor. In light of the critical role of ER-α in breast carcinoma, our data suggest that small molecules that selectively disrupt the interaction of ER-α with CaM may be useful in the therapy of breast carcinoma.

Comments

© 2017 American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Inc. Original published version available at http://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M116.754804.

Recommended Citation

Li, Z., Zhang, Y., Hedman, A. C., Ames, J. B., & Sacks, D. B. (2017). Calmodulin Lobes Facilitate Dimerization and Activation of Estrogen Receptor-α. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 292(11), 4614–4622. https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M116.754804

First Page

4614

Last Page

4622

Publication Title

Journal of Biological Chemistry

DOI

10.1074/jbc.M116.754804