A high-affinity oestrogen-binding protein in cockerel liver cytosol

In contrast with several earlier reports, cytosol from cockerel liver contains a significant concentration of a protein that binds oestradiol with high affinity. To demonstrate the activity, certain alterations in the conventional method of preparation of cytosol must be made. Homogenization in sucrose-containing buffer at pH 8.4 in the presence of proteinase inhibitors and rapid fractionation of the cytosol with (NH₄)₂SO₄ enables demonstration of a single class of oestradiol-binding sites with a K(d) of about 1nm and specificity only for oestrogens. The concentration is about 300 sites per cell in liver from 2-week-old cockerels. Oestradiol treatment in vivo decreases the number of exchangeable cytosol oestradiol-binding sites by about 80% for 1-4h, after which time it is gradually restored. Gel filtration of the cytosol preparation in the presence of high salt concentrations reveals that most of the oestradiol-binding activity is in high-molecular-weight aggregates, but a mild trypsin treatment generate a specific binding protein with an approximate mol.wt. of 40000. This protein may be an oestrogen receptor.