It is clear from the results of the Women's Health Initiative that there is an unmet medical need for estrogens that manifest their activity in a tissue-selective manner. Indeed, drugs with these properties like the SERMs raloxifene, bazedoxifene and lazofoxifene have already been developed. Unfortunately, none of these SERMs can treat the climacteric symptoms associated with estrogen deprivation. Furthermore, there is concern that long-term exposure to the available SERMs, while reducing the incidence of breast cancer in some women may actually facilitate the growth of cancers in others. Obviously, the next advance in this field will be the development of truly specific SERMs. This will be accomplished by defining the specific coactivators involved in a given process and selectively regulating these interactions with small molecules. With over 40 known ER-interacting proteins already identified, it may seem hard to believe that further discovery in this area is needed. However, our data suggests that there are important gaps in our understanding of ER action and that at least two additional classes of coactivators remain to be identified. To address this issue we have developed a high-throughput protein-protein interaction screen that will allow us to efficiently probe a large number of ER responsive tissues/cells for cofactors involved in determining the molecular pharmacology of estrogens and antiestrogens. In addition, we propose to investigate the mechanism(s) by which the RNA-binding protein RTAalpha ,a cofactor recently identified by our laboratory, exerts its regulatory activities on ERalpha and determine its role in regulating the cellular responses to estrogens, antiestrogens and SERMs. Reflecting these objectives, we propose the following specific aims:
Aim 1. Identification of factors that interact with ERalpha-tamoxifen and ERalpha-estradiol complexes in a manner that is distinct from those previously identified.
Aim 2. Evaluation of the biological consequences of differential ERalpha-coactivator recruitment.
Aim 3. Elucidation of the molecular mechanism(s) underlying the tissue selective agonist/antagonist activities of tamoxifen.
Aim 4. Definition of the molecular mechanism by which the RNA binding protein RTAalpha/FXH-1 manifests its regulatory activity on ERalpha pharmacology.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Method to Extend Research in Time (MERIT) Award (R37)
Project #
4R37DK048807-16
Application #
7915964
Study Section
Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology Study Section (MCE)
Program Officer
Margolis, Ronald N
Project Start
1994-12-01
Project End
2015-01-31
Budget Start
2010-04-06
Budget End
2011-01-31
Support Year
16
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$504,674
Indirect Cost
Name
Duke University
Department
Pharmacology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
044387793
City
Durham
State
NC
Country
United States
Zip Code
27705
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