Transcriptional regulation by the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is mediated by hormone binding, receptor dimerization, and coactivator recruitment. Here, we report the crystal structure of the human GR ligand binding domain (LBD) bound to dexamethasone and a coactivator motif derived from the transcriptional intermediary factor 2. Despite structural similarity to other steroid receptors, the GR LBD adopts a surprising dimer configuration involving formation of an intermolecular beta sheet. Functional studies demonstrate that the novel dimer interface is important for GR-mediated activation. The structure also reveals an additional charge clamp that determines the binding selectivity of a coactivator and a distinct ligand binding pocket that explains its selectivity for endogenous steroid hormones. These results establish a framework for understanding the roles of protein-hormone and protein-protein interactions in GR signaling pathways.

Repression of gene transcription by nuclear receptors is mediated by interactions with co-repressor proteins such as SMRT and N-CoR, which in turn recruit histone deacetylases to the chromatin. Aberrant interactions between nuclear receptors and co-repressors contribute towards acute promyelocytic leukaemia and thyroid hormone resistance syndrome. The binding of co-repressors to nuclear receptors occurs in the unliganded state, and can be stabilized by antagonists. Here we report the crystal structure of a ternary complex containing the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha ligand-binding domain bound to the antagonist GW6471 and a SMRT co-repressor motif. In this structure, the co-repressor motif adopts a three-turn alpha-helix that prevents the carboxy-terminal activation helix (AF-2) of the receptor from assuming the active conformation. Binding of the co-repressor motif is further reinforced by the antagonist, which blocks the AF-2 helix from adopting the active position. Biochemical analyses and structure-based mutagenesis indicate that this mode of co-repressor binding is highly conserved across nuclear receptors.

Protein kinase R (PKR)-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK) is activated in response to a variety of endoplasmic reticulum stresses implicated in numerous disease states. Evidence that PERK is implicated in tumorigenesis and cancer cell survival stimulated our search for small molecule inhibitors. Through screening and lead optimization using the human PERK crystal structure, we discovered compound 38 (GSK2606414), an orally available, potent, and selective PERK inhibitor. Compound 38 inhibits PERK activation in cells and inhibits the growth of a human tumor xenograft in mice.

The unfolded protein response (UPR) is a signal transduction pathway that coordinates cellular adaptation to microenvironmental stresses that include hypoxia, nutrient deprivation, and change in redox status. These stress stimuli are common in many tumors and thus targeting components of the UPR signaling is an attractive therapeutic approach. We have identified a first-in-class, small molecule inhibitor of the eukaryotic initiation factor 2-alpha kinase 3 (EIF2AK3) or PERK, one of the three mediators of UPR signaling. GSK2656157 is an ATP-competitive inhibitor of PERK enzyme activity with an IC 50 of 0.9 nmol/L. It is highly selective for PERK with IC 50 values >100 nmol/L against a panel of 300 kinases. GSK2656157 inhibits PERK activity in cells with an IC 50 in the range of 10-30 nmol/L as shown by inhibition of stress-induced PERK autophosphorylation, eIF2a substrate phosphorylation, together with corresponding decreases in ATF4 and CAAT/enhancer binding protein homologous protein (CHOP) in multiple cell lines. Oral administration of GSK2656157 to mice shows a dose-and time-dependent pharmacodynamic response in pancreas as measured by PERK autophosphorylation. Twice daily dosing of GSK2656157 results in dose-dependent inhibition of multiple human tumor xenografts growth in mice. Altered amino acid metabolism, decreased blood vessel density, and vascular perfusion are potential mechanisms for the observed antitumor effect. However, despite its antitumor activity, given the on-target pharmacologic effects of PERK inhibition on pancreatic function, development of any PERK inhibitor in human subjects would need to be cautiously pursued in cancer patients.

The androgen receptor (AR) is required for male sex development and contributes to prostate cancer cell survival. In contrast to other nuclear receptors that bind the LXXLL motifs of coactivators, the AR ligand binding domain is preferentially engaged in an interdomain interaction with the AR FXXLF motif. Reported here are crystal structures of the ligand-activated AR ligand binding domain with and without bound FXXLF and LXXLL peptides. Key residues that establish motif binding specificity are identified through comparative structure-function and mutagenesis studies. A mechanism in prostate cancer is suggested by a functional AR mutation at a specificity-determining residue that recovers coactivator LXXLL motif binding. An activation function transition hypothesis is proposed in which an evolutionary decline in LXXLL motif binding parallels expansion and functional dominance of the NH(2)-terminal transactivation domain in the steroid receptor subfamily.

Ligand binding is the first step in hormone regulation of mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) activity. Here, we report multiple crystal structures of MR (NR3C2) bound to both agonist and antagonists. These structures combined with mutagenesis studies reveal that maximal receptor activation involves an intricate ligand-mediated hydrogen bond network with Asn 770 which serves dual roles: stabilization of the loop preceding the C-terminal activation function-2 helix and direct contact with the hormone ligand. In addition, most activating ligands hydrogen bond to Thr 945 on helix 10. Structural characterization of the naturally occurring S810L mutant explains how stabilization of a helix 3/helix 5 interaction can circumvent the requirement for this hydrogen bond network. Taken together, these results explain the potency of MR activation by aldosterone, the weak activation induced by progesterone and the antihypertensive agent spironolactone, and the binding selectivity of cortisol over cortisone.

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The androgen receptor (AR) is transcriptionally activated by high affinity binding of testosterone (T) or its 5␣-reduced metabolite, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a more potent androgen required for male reproductive tract development. The molecular basis for the weaker activity of T was investigated by determining T-bound ligand binding domain crystal structures of wild-type AR and a prostate cancer somatic mutant complexed with the AR FXXLF or coactivator LXXLL peptide. Nearly identical interactions of T and DHT in the AR ligand binding pocket correlate with similar rates of dissociation from an AR fragment containing the ligand binding domain. However, T induces weaker AR FXXLF and coactivator LXXLL motif interactions at activation function 2 (AF2). Less effective FXXLF motif binding to AF2 accounts for faster T dissociation from full-length AR. T can nevertheless acquire DHT-like activity through an AR helix-10 H874Y prostate cancer mutation. The Tyr-874 mutant side chain mediates a new hydrogen bonding scheme from exterior helix-10 to backbone protein core helix-4 residue Tyr-739 to rescue T-induced AR activity by improving AF2 binding of FXXLF and LXXLL motifs. Greater AR AF2 activity by improved core helix interactions is supported by the effects of melanoma antigen gene protein-11, an AR coregulator that binds the AR FXXLF motif and targets AF2 for activation. We conclude that T is a weaker androgen than DHT because of less favorable T-dependent AR FXXLF and coactivator LXXLL motif interactions at AF2. The androgen receptor (AR)2 is a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily of ligand-activated transcription factors. Androgen activation of AR regulates prostate growth, bone and muscle mass, and spermatogenesis and is a predisposing factor in prostate cancer. AR mediates transcriptional activity in response to two biologically active androgens that bind AR with similar high affinity (1). Testosterone (T) is the major circulating androgen secreted by the testis and the active androgen in muscle. Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the 5␣-reduced metabolite of T, is a more potent androgen required for male reproductive tract development.AR has a modular structure composed of an NH 2 -terminal transactivation domain, central DNA binding domain, linker hinge region, and carboxyl-terminal ligand binding domain (LBD) (2). Like other nuclear receptor family members (3), AR has two major activation domains. Androgen-induced AR transcriptional activity depends on activation function 1 in the largely unstructured NH 2 -terminal region (2) and activation function 2 (AF2), a highly ordered hydrophobic surface in the LBD that requires androgen binding for its structural integrity (4).The degree to which AF2 contributes to overall AR activity depends on multiple competing factors. Unlike other nuclear receptors, AR AF2 binds a number of LXXLL-related motifs. Important among these is the AR NH 2 -terminal FXXLF motif 23 FQNLF 27 that binds AF2 in an androgen-dependent and -specific manner. AR FXXLF motif binding to AF2 is the bas...