PMID: 21986665 , Related PDB id: 3QT0

Authors:

Lin S, Han Y, Shi Y, Rong H, Zheng S, Jin S, Lin SY, Lin SC, Li Y

Title:

Revealing a steroid receptor ligand as a unique PPARgamma agonist.

Journal:

Cell Res. 2012 Apr;22(4):746-56. doi: 10.1038/cr.2011.162. Epub 2011 Oct 11.

Abstract:

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) regulates metabolic homeostasis and is a molecular target for anti-diabetic drugs. We report here the identification of a steroid receptor ligand, RU-486, as an unexpected PPARgamma agonist, thereby uncovering a novel signaling route for this steroid drug. Similar to rosiglitazone, RU-486 modulates the expression of key PPARgamma target genes and promotes adipocyte differentiation, but with a lower adipogenic activity. Structural and functional studies of receptor-ligand interactions reveal the molecular basis for a unique binding mode for RU-486 in the PPARgamma ligand-binding pocket with distinctive properties and epitopes, providing the molecular mechanisms for the discrimination of RU-486 from thiazolidinediones (TZDs) drugs. Our findings together indicate that steroid compounds may represent an alternative approach for designing non-TZD PPARgamma ligands in the treatment of insulin resistance.