Quantitative detection of the ligand-dependent interaction between the androgen receptor and the co-activator, Tif2, in live cells using two color, two photon fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy

Eur Biophys J. 2007 Feb;36(2):153-61. doi: 10.1007/s00249-006-0095-1. Epub 2006 Oct 5.

Abstract

Two-photon, two-color fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy (TPTCFCCS) was used to directly detect ligand-dependent interaction between an eCFP-fusion of the androgen receptor (eCFP-AR) and an eYFP fusion of the nuclear receptor co-activator, Tif2 (eYFP-Tif2) in live cells. As expected, these two proteins were co-localized in the nucleus in the presence of ligand. Analysis of the cross-correlation amplitude revealed that AR was on average 81% bound to Tif2 in the presence of agonist, whereas the fractional complex formation decreased to 56% in the presence of antagonist. Residual AR-Tif2 interaction in presence of antagonist is likely mediated by its ligand-independent activation function. These studies demonstrate that using TPTCFCCS it is possible to quantify ligand-dependent interaction of nuclear receptors with co-regulator partners in live cells, making possible a vast array of structure-function studies for these important transcriptional regulators.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Binding Sites
  • COS Cells
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Ligands
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence, Multiphoton
  • Nuclear Receptor Coactivator 2 / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Interaction Mapping / methods*
  • Receptors, Androgen / metabolism*
  • Spectrometry, Fluorescence / methods*

Substances

  • Ligands
  • NCOA2 protein, human
  • Nuclear Receptor Coactivator 2
  • Receptors, Androgen