查看文章

Estrogen-dependent regulation of several genes associated with cell cycle progression, proliferation, and nucleotide metabolism in breast cancer cells is associated with interactions of estrogen receptor (ER)α/Sp1 with GC-rich promoter elements. This study investigates ligand-dependent interactions of ERα and Sp1 in MCF-7 breast cancer cells using fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). Chimeric ERα and Sp1 proteins fused to cyan fluorescent protein or yellow fluorescent protein were transfected into MCF-7 cells, and a FRET signal was induced after treatment with 17β-estradiol, 4′-hydroxytamoxifen, or ICI 182,780. Induction of FRET by these ERα agonists/antagonists was paralleled by their activation of gene expression in cells transfected with a construct (pSp1₃) containing three tandem Sp1 binding sites linked to a luciferase reporter gene. In contrast, interactions between ERα and …