TY - JOUR
T1 - Abnormal liver development and resistance to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin toxicity in mice carrying a mutation in the DNA-Binding domain of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor
AU - Bunger, Maureen K.
AU - Glover, Edward
AU - Moran, Susan M.
AU - Walisser, Jacqueline A.
AU - Lahvis, Garet P.
AU - Hsu, Erin I.
AU - Bradfield, Christopher A.
PY - 2008/11
Y1 - 2008/11
N2 - The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is known for its role in the adaptive and toxic responses to a large number of environmental contaminants, as well as its role in hepatovascular development. The classical AHR pathway involves ligand binding, nuclear translocation, heterodimerization with the AHR nuclear translocator (ARNT), and binding of the heterodimer to dioxin response elements (DREs), thereby modulating the transcription of an array of genes. The AHR has also been implicated in signaling events independent of nuclear localization and DNA binding, and it has been suggested that such pathways may play important roles in the toxicity of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). Here, we report the generation of a mouse model that expresses an AHR protein capable of ligand binding, interactions with chaperone proteins, functional heterodimerization with ARNT, and nuclear translocation, but is unable to bind DREs. Using this model, we provide evidence that DNA binding is required AHR-mediated liver development, as Ahr dbd/dbd > mice exhibit a patent ductus venosus, similar to what is seen in Ahr-/- > mice. Furthermore, Ahr dbd/dbd > mice are resistant to TCDD-induced toxicity for all endpoints tested. These data suggest that DNA binding is necessary for AHR-mediated developmental and toxic signaling.
AB - The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is known for its role in the adaptive and toxic responses to a large number of environmental contaminants, as well as its role in hepatovascular development. The classical AHR pathway involves ligand binding, nuclear translocation, heterodimerization with the AHR nuclear translocator (ARNT), and binding of the heterodimer to dioxin response elements (DREs), thereby modulating the transcription of an array of genes. The AHR has also been implicated in signaling events independent of nuclear localization and DNA binding, and it has been suggested that such pathways may play important roles in the toxicity of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). Here, we report the generation of a mouse model that expresses an AHR protein capable of ligand binding, interactions with chaperone proteins, functional heterodimerization with ARNT, and nuclear translocation, but is unable to bind DREs. Using this model, we provide evidence that DNA binding is required AHR-mediated liver development, as Ahr dbd/dbd > mice exhibit a patent ductus venosus, similar to what is seen in Ahr-/- > mice. Furthermore, Ahr dbd/dbd > mice are resistant to TCDD-induced toxicity for all endpoints tested. These data suggest that DNA binding is necessary for AHR-mediated developmental and toxic signaling.
KW - Aryl hydrocarbon receptor
KW - Dioxin
KW - Ductus venosus
KW - TCDD
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U2 - 10.1093/toxsci/kfn149
DO - 10.1093/toxsci/kfn149
M3 - Article
C2 - 18660548
AN - SCOPUS:54349090870
SN - 1096-6080
VL - 106
SP - 83
EP - 92
JO - Toxicological Sciences
JF - Toxicological Sciences
IS - 1
ER -