Rho GDP dissociation inhibitor alpha interacts with estrogen receptor alpha and influences estrogen responsiveness

J Mol Endocrinol. 2007 Oct;39(4):249-59. doi: 10.1677/JME-07-0055.

Abstract

Estrogen receptor alpha (ER alpha) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that regulates expression of estrogen-responsive genes. Upon binding of the ligand-occupied ER alpha to estrogen response elements (EREs) in DNA, the receptor interacts with a variety of coregulatory proteins to modulate transcription of target genes. We have isolated and identified a number of proteins associated with the DNA-bound ER alpha. One of these proteins, Rho guanosine diphosphate (GDP) dissociation inhibitor alpha (RhoGDI alpha), is a negative regulator of the Rho family of GTP-binding proteins. In this study, we demonstrate that endogenously expressed RhoGDI alpha is present in the nucleus as well as the cytoplasm of MCF-7 breast cancer cells, and that RhoGDI alpha binds directly to ER alpha, alters the ER alpha-ERE interaction, and influences the ability of ER alpha to regulate transcription of a heterologous estrogen-responsive reporter plasmid in transient transfection assays as well as endogenous, estrogen-responsive genes in MCF-7 cells. Our studies suggest that, in addition to the activity of RhoGDI alpha in the cytoplasm, it also influences ER alpha signaling in the nucleus.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Cytoplasm / metabolism
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha / metabolism*
  • Estrogens / pharmacology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation* / drug effects
  • Guanine Nucleotide Dissociation Inhibitors / genetics
  • Guanine Nucleotide Dissociation Inhibitors / metabolism*
  • Guanine Nucleotide Dissociation Inhibitors / physiology*
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Protein Binding
  • Response Elements
  • Tissue Distribution
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • rho Guanine Nucleotide Dissociation Inhibitor alpha
  • rho-Specific Guanine Nucleotide Dissociation Inhibitors

Substances

  • ARHGDIA protein, human
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha
  • Estrogens
  • Guanine Nucleotide Dissociation Inhibitors
  • rho Guanine Nucleotide Dissociation Inhibitor alpha
  • rho-Specific Guanine Nucleotide Dissociation Inhibitors