Characterization of glucocorticoid receptors and glucocorticoid receptor
mRNA in human leukemia cells: stabilization of the receptor by
diisopropylfluorophosphate
CW Distelhorst and R Miesfeld
We have shown that cytosol samples from human leukemia cells frequently
contain glucocorticoid receptor fragments that have a mol wt (Mr) of
approximately 52,000. In the present study we demonstrate that the Mr
approximately 52,000-receptor fragments are derived from intact
glucocorticoid receptors (Mr approximately 97,000) by the action of a
serine protease. Mr approximately 52,000-receptor fragments were present in
cytosol from 24 of 52 leukemia cell samples. Only normal size
glucocorticoid receptors were present in cytosol samples if
diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP), a potent inhibitor of serine proteases,
was added to the hypotonic buffer used for cytosol preparation. Receptor
proteolysis was not inhibited by hydrolyzed DFP, benzamidine,
phenylmethylsulfonylfluoride, aprotinin, iodoacetamide, or mercuric
chloride. The leukemia cell protease digests the receptor at a different
site than chymotrypsin, which digests the intact receptor to produce a Mr
approximately 40,000 receptor fragment. Receptor messenger RNA (mRNA) in
S49 mouse lymphoma cells and in human leukemia cells was analyzed by
Northern hybridization with a cDNA for the normal glucocorticoid receptor.
Mutant S49 mouse lymphoma cells that have abnormally small glucocorticoid
receptors (Mr approximately 48,000) make a 5.0-kilobase receptor transcript
in addition to the normal size 6.5-kilobase receptor transcript. A normal
size receptor transcript of 6.5 kilobases was present in all of the human
leukemia cells whether or not Mr approximately 52,000-receptor fragments
were present. Therefore, abnormalities of glucocorticoid receptor mRNA,
which may give rise to the synthesis of foreshortened receptors in certain
mutant mouse lymphoma cells, are apparently absent from human leukemia
cells.
Volume 69,
Issue 3,
pp. 750-756,
03/01/1987
Copyright © 1987 by The American Society of Hematology