Regulation of estrogen receptor (ER) concentration is a key component in limiting estrogen responsiveness in target cells. Yet the mechanisms governing ER concentration in the lactotrope cells of the anterior pituitary, a major site of estrogen action, are undetermined. In this study, we used a lactotrope cell line, PR1, to explore regulation of ER protein by estrogen. Estrogen treatment resulted in an approximate 60% decrease in ER steady state protein levels. Suprisingly, the decline in ER protein was apparent within 1 h of estrogen treatment and occurred in the absence of protein synthesis and transcription. Direct regulation of ER protein was further confirmed by pulse chase analysis, which showed that ER protein half-life was shortened from greater than 3 h to 1 h in the presence of estrogen. The estrogen-induced degradation of ER protein could be prevented by pretreatment with peptide aldehyde inhibitors of proteasome protease whereas inhibitors of calpain and lysosomal proteases were ineffective. Inhibition of proteasome activity maintained ER protein at a level equivalent to control cells not stimulated with estrogen but increased estrogen-binding activity by 1.75-fold. Proteolytic regulation of ER by the proteasome is not limited to pituitary lactotrope cells but is also operational in MCF-7 breast cancer cells, suggesting that this may be a common regulatory pathway used by estrogen. These studies describe a nongenomic action of estrogen that involves nuclear ER: rapid proteolysis of ER protein via a proteasome-mediated pathway.

Estrogen receptor alpha (ER␣), a key driver of growth in the majority of breast cancers, contains an unstructured transactivation domain (AF1) in its N terminus that is a convergence point for growth factor and hormonal activation. This domain is controlled by phosphorylation, but how phosphorylation impacts AF1 structure and function is unclear. We found that serine 118 (S118) phosphorylation of the ER␣ AF1 region in response to estrogen (agonist), tamoxifen (antagonist), and growth factors results in recruitment of the peptidyl prolyl cis/trans isomerase Pin1. Phosphorylation of S118 is critical for Pin1 binding, and mutation of S118 to alanine prevents this association. Importantly, Pin1 isomerizes the serine118-proline119 bond from a cis to trans isomer, with a concomitant increase in AF1 transcriptional activity. Pin1 overexpression promotes ligand-independent and tamoxifeninducible activity of ER␣ and growth of tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cells. Pin1 expression correlates with proliferation in ER␣-positive rat mammary tumors. These results establish phosphorylation-coupled proline isomerization as a mechanism modulating AF1 functional activity and provide insight into the role of a conformational switch in the functional regulation of the intrinsically disordered transactivation domain of ER␣.E strogen receptor alpha (ER␣), a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily of transcription factors, mediates the actions of estrogen in normal physiology and disease (17). ER␣ is expressed in the normal mammary gland and in 70% of human breast cancers and is a key driver of breast cell proliferation (16,26,83). Directed overexpression of ER␣ in the mammary gland is sufficient to induce hyperplasia, and blockade of ER␣ activity by hormonal therapies (aromatase inhibitors, tamoxifen, and fulvestrant) reduces recurrence and improves clinical outcomes of ER␣-positive breast cancer patients (19,22). Two activation functions mediate the transcriptional activity of ER␣, a C-terminal liganddependent AF2 and an N-terminal ligand-independent AF1 (89). Regulation of ER␣ activity via the C-terminal AF2 has been wellcharacterized through biochemical and crystallographic studies and forms the basis for our understanding of hormonal therapy for breast cancer (10,34,84). In the canonical activation pathway, ligand binding initiates C-terminal structural rearrangements that facilitate downstream events, including dimerization, DNA binding, and coregulator interactions, ultimately engaging the basal transcriptional machinery to regulate gene expression. However, ER␣ can also be activated by growth factors and kinases, which phosphorylate the receptor N terminus and other domains to regulate transcription in the absence of direct ligand engagement (for reviews, see references 27, 47, 75, 94, and 95). In contrast to the C-terminal AF2 domain, biochemical and structural mechanisms that control N-terminal AF1 remain poorly understood (48,91).Multiple challenges have hindered molecular dissection of AF1 regulation. First, AF1 resid...

The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway has emerged as an important regulatory mechanism governing the activity of several transcription factors. While estrogen receptor ␣ (ER␣) is also subjected to rapid ubiquitinproteasome degradation, the relationship between proteolysis and transcriptional regulation is incompletely understood. Based on studies primarily focusing on the C-terminal ligand-binding and AF-2 transactivation domains, an assembly of an active transcriptional complex has been proposed to signal ER␣ proteolysis that is in turn necessary for its transcriptional activity. Here, we investigated the role of other regions of ER␣ and identified S118 within the N-terminal AF-1 transactivation domain as an additional element for regulating estrogen-induced ubiquitination and degradation of ER␣. Significantly, different S118 mutants revealed that degradation and transcriptional activity of ER␣ are mechanistically separable functions of ER␣. We find that proteolysis of ER␣ correlates with the ability of ER␣ mutants to recruit specific ubiquitin ligases regardless of the recruitment of other transcription-related factors to endogenous model target genes. Thus, our findings indicate that the AF-1 domain performs a previously unrecognized and important role in controlling ligandinduced receptor degradation which permits the uncoupling of estrogen-regulated ER␣ proteolysis and transcription.The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway contributes to the control of transcription through the ubiquitination and regulated degradation of multiple components of the transcriptional machinery (10, 34). Among these components is a large list of transactivators whose activity can be related to their proteolytic degradation. For many, particularly those that possess acidic activation domains, such as VP16 and c-myc, sequence elements essential for proteasome-mediated proteolysis reside within transactivation domains (33,43). Several members of the nuclear receptor superfamily are substrates for the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway (11,19,21,24,26,29,37,50,52,55), the first identified being estrogen receptor ␣ (ER␣) (1, 13, 36). ER␣ possesses two transactivation domains, AF-1 and AF-2, which reside in the N terminus and C terminus of the receptor, respectively. These activation domains are bridged by a conserved DNA binding domain and a hinge region responsible for receptor nuclear localization.The transcriptional activity of AF-2 is strictly ligand dependent, but the AF-1 is not; thus, AF-2 received much attention for analysis of the relationship between estrogen-stimulated proteolysis and transcription. AF-2 is highly structured, consisting of 12 ␣-helices that adopt an active conformation upon agonist binding, which exposes a hydrophobic surface where coactivator proteins bind (6). It has been shown that mutations of residues critical for AF-2-mediated transactivation disrupt proteolysis (27, 53). E6-AP, a ubiquitin ligase (35), and the TRIP1/Rpt6/SUG1 (28, 42) subunit of the 19S regulatory cap of the proteasome bind to ER␣ through the coactiva...

Gene expression results from the coordinated actions of transcription factor proteins and coregulators. Estrogen receptor alpha (ER␣) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that can both activate and repress the expression of genes. Activation of transcription by estrogen-bound ER␣ has been studied in detail, as has antagonist-induced repression, such as that which occurs by tamoxifen. How estrogen-bound ER␣ represses gene transcription remains unclear. In this report, we identify a new mechanism of estrogen-induced transcriptional repression by using the ER␣ gene, ESR1. Upon estrogen treatment, ER␣ is recruited to two sites on ESR1, one distal (ENH1) and the other at the proximal (A) promoter. Coactivator proteins, namely, p300 and AIB1, are found at both ER␣-binding sites. However, recruitment of the Sin3A repressor, loss of RNA polymerase II, and changes in histone modifications occur only at the A promoter. Reduction of Sin3A expression by RNA interference specifically inhibits estrogen-induced repression of ESR1. Furthermore, an estrogen-responsive interaction between Sin3A and ER␣ is identified. These data support a model of repression wherein actions of ER␣ and Sin3A at the proximal promoter can overcome activating signals at distal or proximal sites and ultimately decrease gene expression.Downregulation of receptors by their ligands is a fundamental process by which cells control sensitivity to stimuli. For steroid hormones, this involves lipophilic ligands binding to intracellular receptors to induce a decline in receptor number. Regulation of estrogen (E2) receptor alpha (ER␣) by E2 is one example. The E2-induced decline in ER␣ is, in part, mediated through direct regulation of the protein. It is well documented that decreases in ER␣ protein levels in response to E2 occur via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway (1, 42). The mRNA levels of ER␣ also decrease, but the mechanism responsible for E2-induced repression of the ER␣ gene, ESR1, is not established (5, 49, 52).ER␣ is a ligand-activated transcription factor that mediates the effects of E2 by regulating gene expression. Activation by ER␣ has been studied in detail, but little is understood about how E2-bound ER␣ represses transcription. E2-induced repression is, however, of significant biological importance. Microarray analyses of E2-treated breast cancer cell lines show that the number of repressed genes is greater than or near the number of activated genes (10,19,29,32). Yet, there are limited reports investigating E2-induced repression, and no generalized mechanism has emerged (6,13,22,25,43,47,59,60,71,74). Antagonistinduced repression by selective ER modulators involves conformational changes that prevent coactivator binding to ER␣ (55). Such a conformational blockade does not occur with agonist binding and thus cannot account for E2-induced gene repression.Many repressive complexes exist to restrict gene expression in response to cellular signals. One example is the Sin3 complex, which was identified in yeast but is conserved in mammals (41, ...

Ligand-specific regulation of proteasome-mediated proteolysis of estrogen receptor-␣. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 282: E891-E898, 2002. First published December 18, 2001 10.1152/ajpendo.00353.2001.-Proteasome-mediated proteolysis modulates the cellular concentration of estrogen receptor-␣ (ER␣) and is induced by treatment of cells with 17␤-estradiol. Herein, we show that multiple receptor agonists, including 17␣-estradiol and estriol as well as the antagonist ICI-182780, stimulate proteasome-dependent proteolysis of ER␣ in a process that requires ligand binding to the receptor. Proteolysis of receptor depends on ligand concentration, and there exists a direct correlation between ligand-binding affinity and the half-maximal dose of ligand required to stimulate receptor degradation. Furthermore, introduction of a point mutation into the receptor ligand-binding pocket yields a stable receptor resistant to proteolysis. Interestingly, although all ligands stimulate receptor degradation, the extent to which overall ER levels are affected varies with each ligand and is not related to ligand-binding affinity or activation of transcription. These results demonstrate ligand-specific regulation of ER␣ proteolysis, and they introduce the concept that cellular receptor concentration is governed not only at the level of induction of proteolysis but also by the efficiency with which the receptor is degraded. steroid; nuclear receptor; antagonist; estriol; pituitary CELLULAR ESTROGEN RECEPTOR LEVELS are dynamic and are particularly sensitive to changes in circulating levels of 17␤-estradiol. It has been demonstrated through a number of studies that the decline in estrogen receptor-␣ (ER␣) upon exposure to 17␤-estradiol results from a combination of mechanisms that control both receptor synthesis and degradation through transcriptional, posttranscriptional, and posttranslational mechanisms (20,27,32,33,35,36). The most rapid of these regulatory mechanisms is the direct loss of ER␣ protein brought about by the induction of proteasome-mediated proteolysis (1,21,28).Regulated proteolysis by proteasomes accounts for the turnover of most short-lived proteins, including many nuclear receptors (9,16,23,29,41,43,45). Through a series of three enzymatic reactions, ubiquitin moieties are attached to a protein substrate, which targets it to the 26S proteasome. The molecular events that direct ER␣ into this pathway have not been clearly established. However, earlier studies that examine changes in receptor-binding capacity have shown that receptor levels can be controlled by both receptor agonists and antagonists, suggesting the possibility that receptor occupation by ligand may provide specificity (3,4,15,18,22,33).In our original report of ER␣ protein regulation by proteolysis, we utilized a pituitary lactotrope model system, the PR1 cell line. The lactotrope cell population of the anterior pituitary is a major target of estrogen action. Animals that lack ER␣ show a decrease in lactotrope cell density and prolactin expression (37). In ...

A common phenotype in breast cancer is the expansion of the estrogen receptor-alpha (ER+) cell population and an inappropriate elevation of ERalpha protein, the latter predisposing patients for a poorer prognosis than those with lower levels of the receptor. A tetracycline-inducible ERalpha overexpression model was developed in the MCF-7 cell line to assess induction of endogenous gene activation and growth in response to elevations in ERalpha protein. Heightened levels of ERalpha resulted in aberrant promoter occupancy and gene activation in the absence of hormone, which was independent of ligand and AF-2 function. This increased receptor activity required the amino-terminal A/B domain and was not inhibited by tamoxifen, which supports an enhancement of AF-1 function, yet was independent of serine-104, 106, and 118 phosphorylation. Ligand-independent transcription was accompanied by an increase in growth in the absence of hormonal stimulation. The results suggest that elevated levels of ERalpha in breast cancer cells can result in activation of receptor transcriptional function in a manner distinct from classical mechanisms that involve ligand binding or growth factor-induced phosphorylation. Further, they describe a potential mechanism whereby increases in ERalpha concentration may provide a proliferative advantage by augmenting ERalpha function regardless of ligand status.

Estrogen receptor-a (ERa) is essential in the maintenance of cellular responsiveness to estrogen in the reproductive system. It is established that ligand binding induces downregulation of ERa protein by targeting receptor for destruction by the 26S proteasome. However, ERa is preserved in cells chronically exposed to estrogen and it is unknown how receptor levels are maintained in the continued presence of the signal that induces degradation. A modified pulsechase analysis was developed using a tet-inducible ERa expression system to determine the rate of ERa protein decay following both acute and chronic estrogen treatments. Upon initial hormone treatment, ERa half-life is shortened from 3 to 1 h. However, ERa half-life increases over time, achieving a half-life of w6 h in 72 h of estrogen treatment. Analysis of ERa half-life in the presence and absence of proteasome inhibitor, MG132, revealed that the increased stability is due in part to a decreased rate of proteolysis. In addition, we observed a time-dependent increase in phospho-S118 ERa and showed that the half-life of the phosphomimetic ERa mutant, S118E-ER, is identical to that of wild-type receptor under conditions of chronic estrogen treatment. These data provide evidence that as cells adapt to chronic stimulation, ERa protein is stabilized due first to a decreased rate of proteolysis, and secondarily, to the accumulation of proteasome-resistant, phosphorylated form of receptor. This temporal control of proteolysis allows for the establishment of steady-state levels of receptor and provides a protective mechanism against loss of hormone responsiveness.

Estrogen receptor-alpha (ERα) is an important biomarker used to classify and direct therapy decisions in breast cancer. Both ERα protein and its transcript, ESR1, are used to predict response to tamoxifen therapy, yet certain tumors have discordant levels of ERα protein and ESR1, which is currently unexplained. Cellular ERα protein levels can be controlled post-translationally by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway (UPP) through a mechanism that depends on phosphorylation at residue S118. Phospho-S118 (pS118-ERα) is a substrate for the peptidyl prolyl isomerase, Pin1, which mediates cis-trans isomerization of the pS118-P119 bond to enhance ERα transcriptional function. Here, we demonstrate that Pin1 can increase ERα protein without affecting ESR1 transcript levels by inhibiting proteasome-dependent receptor degradation. Pin1 disrupts ERα ubiquitination by interfering with receptor interactions with the E3 ligase, E6AP, which also is shown to bind pS118-ERα. Quantitative in situ assessments of ERα protein, ESR1, and Pin1 in human tumors from a retrospective cohort show that Pin1 levels correlate with ERα protein but not to ESR1 levels. These data show that ERα protein is post-translationally regulated by Pin1 in a proportion of breast carcinomas. Since Pin1 impacts both ERα protein levels and transactivation function, these data implicate Pin1 as a potential surrogate marker for predicting outcome of ERα-positive breast cancer.