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Phosphorylation of Activation Function-1 Regulates Proteasome-Dependent Nuclear Mobility and E6-Associated Protein Ubiquitin Ligase Recruitment to the Estrogen Receptor β

Research Center (N.P., C.C., M.S., A.T.), Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Ste-Justine, and Departments of Biochemistry (N.P., C.C., M.S., A.T.), and Obstetrics & Gynecology (A.T.), University of Montreal, Montréal, Québec, Canada H3T 1C5; Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (A.L., M.B., G.L.), Unité 844, Site Saint Eloi, Montpellier F-34091, France; and University of Montpellier I, Montpellier F-34090, France

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: André Tremblay, Research Center, Ste-Justine Hospital, 3175 Côte Ste-Catherine, Montréal, Québec, Canada H3T 1C5. E-mail: andre.tremblay{at}recherche-ste-justine.qc.ca.

The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway has been recognized as an important regulator in the hormonal response by estrogen receptor (ER) , but its impact on ERβ function is poorly characterized. In the current study, we investigated the role of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in regulating ERβ activity and identified regulatory sites within the activation function (AF)-1 domain that modulate ERβ ubiquitination and nuclear dynamics in a hormone-independent manner. Although both ER and ERβ were dependent on proteasome function for their maximal response to estrogen, they were regulated differently by proteasome inhibition in the absence of hormone, an effect shown to be dependent on their respective AF-1 domain. Given the role of AF-1 phosphorylation to regulate ER activity, we found that sequential substitutions of specific serine residues contained in MAPK consensus sites conferred transcriptional activation of ERβ in a proteasome-dependent manner through reduced ubiquitination and enhanced accumulation of mutant receptors. Specifically, serines 94 and 106 within ERβ AF-1 domain were found to modulate subnuclear mobility of the receptor to transit between inactive clusters and a more mobile state in a proteasome-dependent manner. In addition, cellular levels of ERβ were regulated through these sites by facilitating the recruitment of the ubiquitin ligase E6-associated protein in a phosphorylation-dependent manner. These findings suggest a role for ERβ AF-1 in contributing to the activation-degradation cycling of the receptor through a functional clustering of phosphorylated serine residues that cooperate in generating signals to the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway.

NURSA Molecule Pages Link:

Nuclear Receptors:   ERα  |  ERβ

Coregulators:   E6AP

Ligands:   17β-Estradiol