Structural characterization of a subtype-selective ligand reveals a novel mode of estrogen receptor antagonism.

The R,R enantiomer of 5,11-cis-diethyl-5,6,11,12-tetrahydrochrysene-2,8-diol (THC) exerts opposite effects on the transcriptional activity of the two estrogen receptor (ER) subtypes, ER alpha and ER beta. THC acts as an ER alpha agonist and as an ER beta antagonist. We have determined the crystal structures of the ER alpha ligand binding domain (LBD) bound to both THC and a fragment of the transcriptional coactivator GRIP1, and the ER beta LBD bound to THC.

The structural basis of estrogen receptor/coactivator recognition and the antagonism of this interaction by tamoxifen.

Ligand-dependent activation of transcription by nuclear receptors (NRs) is mediated by interactions with coactivators. Receptor agonists promote coactivator binding, and antagonists block coactivator binding. Here we report the crystal structure of the human estrogen receptor alpha (hER alpha) ligand-binding domain (LBD) bound to both the agonist diethylstilbestrol (DES) and a peptide derived from the NR box II region of the coactivator GRIP1 and the crystal structure of the hER alpha LBD bound to the selective antagonist 4-hydroxytamoxifen (OHT).

A glutamate-dependent acid resistance gene in Escherichia coli.

Stationary-phase cultures of Escherichia coli can survive several hours or exposure to extreme acid (pH 2 to 3), a level well below the pH range for growth (pH 4.5 to 9). To identify the genes needed for survival in extreme acid, a microliter screening procedure was devised.