We investigated how overexpression of human TATA-box-binding protein (TBP) affects the action of estrogen receptor (ER) and compared the response with that of other activators. When ER activates a simple promoter, consisting of a response element and either the collagenase or tk TATA box, TBP overexpression potentiates transcription. TBP potentiates only estrogen-induced and not basal transcrip...

Most breast tumors show estrogen-dependent growth and are thus susceptible to antiestrogenic therapy. MCF-7 cells, obtained from a human estrogen-dependent breast carcinoma, are widely used for studying the modulation of estrogenic responses by different effectors. All-trans-retinoic acid (RA) and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (Vit D3) inhibited estrogen-induced growth of MCF-7 cells and their effec...

Human CYP2A6, which is predominantly expressed in liver, is a key enzyme responsible for the metabolism of nicotine, coumarin, and some pharmaceutical drugs. CYP2A6 is also expressed in sex steroid-responsive tissues such as breast, ovary, uterus, testis, and adrenal grand. In this study, we examined the regulation of CYP2A6 gene by estrogen. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-...

The estrogen receptor (ER) signaling cascade is a vulnerable target of exposure to environmental xenoestrogens, like nonylphenol (NP), which are causally associated with impaired health status. However, the impact of xenoestrogens on the individual receptor isotypes (alpha, beta a, and beta b) is not well understood. The goal of these studies was to determine the impact of NP on largemouth bass...

The glucocorticoid receptor binds with high specificity to glucocorticoid response elements, discriminating them from other closely related binding sites. Three amino acids in the recognition alpha-helix of the DNA-binding domain of the receptor are primarily responsible for this specific DNA binding activity. In this study we analyze in detail how these residues determine the specific DNA bind...

Exposure to pesticides, dyes, and pollutants that mimic the growth promoting effects of estrogen may cause breast cancer. The pesticide DDT and the food colorant Red No. 3 were found to increase the growth of HTB 133 but not estrogen receptor (ER) negative human breast cells (HTB 125) or rat liver epithelial cells (RLE). Red No. 3, beta-estradiol, and DDT increase ER site-specific DNA binding t...