J. Biol. Chem., Vol. 261, Issue 26, 12102-12108, 09, 1986
Characterization of the rat colonic aldosterone receptor and its activation process
G Schulman, A Miller-Diener, G Litwack and CP Bastl
Aldosterone increases sodium absorption, short circuit current, and
transmural potential difference in rat colon. We studied the rat colonic
aldosterone receptor using the synthetic glucocorticoid, 11 beta, 17
beta-dihydroxy-17 alpha-propynylandrosta-1,4,6-triene-3-one, to prevent
binding to the glucocorticoid receptor. Specific aldosterone binding was
found in proximal and distal colon. Heating to 25 degrees C decreased
binding within 15 min, but the protease inhibitor, phenylmethylsulfonyl
fluoride, stabilized binding. Binding was highest in terminal distal colon.
Competitive binding assay showed aldosterone specificity compared to other
competitors was greater at 30 than at 4 degrees C, suggesting
temperature-sensitive changes in receptor specificity. Scatchard analysis
revealed a straight line with a KD of 2.5 nM at 0 degrees C and 4.1 nM at
30 degrees C. Bmax was higher in distal than in proximal colon (30 degrees
C, 156 +/- 33 versus 65 +/- 9 fmol/mg protein) and increased by 36% in
proximal and 180% in distal colon at 30 degrees C compared to 0 degrees C.
DEAE-cellulose chromatography of unactivated receptor demonstrated a single
peak eluting at 200-250 mM KCl. Heat, ATP, and gel filtration did not
activate the receptor, whereas increasing cytosolic salt concentration to
300 mM KCl, raising the pH to 8, or adding EGTA and EDTA caused increased
DNA-cellulose binding and a new peak eluting at 30-80 mM KCl on
DEAE-cellulose chromatography. There is a specific aldosterone receptor in
colon with increasing number of binding sites from proximal to most distal
segments paralleling aldosterone's physiological effects. Absence of
receptor activation with heat, gel filtration, or ATP suggests differences
between activation of the aldosterone receptor and other steroid hormone
receptors.