JBC, Vol. 251, Issue 8, 2388-2394, Apr, 1976
Increased intestinal chromatin template activity. Influence of 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and hormone-receptor complexes
J. E. Zerwekh, T. J. Lindell and M. R. Haussler
1alpha,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 administration to rachitic chicks results in
an increase in the chromatin template activity of intestinal target tissue
assayed in vitro using Escherichia coli RNA polymerase. The maximum
stimulation of template capacity was 12 to 20% over control values and
occurred 2 hours after administration of the sterol. This rapid effect
preceded the biologic response to 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in the
intestine and was not observed in other tissues such as liver or kidney.
The in vivo enhancement of intestinal chromatin template activity was
specific for the 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 hormone in that equivalent
doses of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 or vitamin D3 did not elicit a response in 2
to 3 hours. Only 1alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3, a synthetic sterol which is very
rapidly metabolized to the 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 form, was able to
minic the natural hormone in vivo. To further elucidate the nuclear
mechanism of action of 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, the hormone was
preincubated at 0 degrees with intestinal cytosol to form hormone-receptor
complexes. After addition of the hormone-receptor complexes to purified
intestinal mucosa nuclei and incubation for 1 hour at 25 degrees, chromatin
isolated from this reconstituted system displayed a significant increase in
template activity as compared to chromatin prepared from similar in vitro
incubations not containing hormone. This stimulation was 12 to 24% over
control values and exhibited an absolute requirement for intestinal cell
cytosol. The response was specific for physiologic levels of
1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, but occurred with pharmacologic doses of
25-hydroxyvitamin D3. It is concluded that a stimulation of the chromatin
template activity of intestinal target tissue by 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin
D3 may be an integral part of the ultimate physiologic response of enhanced
calcium transport.