Integrated Structural Modeling of Full-Length LRH-1 Reveals Inter-domain Interactions Contribute to Receptor Structure and Function

Highlights

• Integrated structural model of full-length monomeric nuclear receptor LRH-1

• Model accurately predicts a novel inter-domain charge clamp

• DNA binding and transcriptional activation domains dock via conserved helices

• Binding of a known transcriptional co-regulator alters LRH-1 inter-domain dynamics

Summary

Liver receptor homolog-1 (LRH-1; NR5A2) is a nuclear receptor that regulates a diverse array of biological processes. In contrast to dimeric nuclear receptors, LRH-1 is an obligate monomer and contains a subtype-specific helix at the C terminus of the DNA-binding domain (DBD), termed FTZ-F1. Although detailed structural information is available for individual domains of LRH-1, it is unknown how these domains exist in the intact nuclear receptor. Here, we developed an integrated structural model of human full-length LRH-1 using a combination of HDX-MS, XL-MS, Rosetta computational docking, and SAXS. The model predicts the DBD FTZ-F1 helix directly interacts with ligand binding domain helix 2. We confirmed several other predicted inter-domain interactions via structural and functional analyses. Comparison between the LRH-1/Dax-1 co-crystal structure and the integrated model predicted and confirmed Dax-1 co-repressor to modulate LRH-1 inter-domain dynamics. Together, these data support individual LRH-1 domains interacting to influence receptor structure and function.