Competitive binding studies with glucocorticoid receptors from rat-thymus cells: differential temperature-dependence of steroid binding.

Competitive steroid-binding studies were performed with intact rat thymus cells and with cytosol preparations at different temperatures using 1,2-3H]dexamethasone as the labelled ligand. Steroids lacking a 17 alpha-hydroxyl group, such as corticosterone, were better able to compete with 1,2-3H]dexamethasone for binding to glucocorticoid receptors at 0 degrees C than compounds containing a 17 alpha-hydroxyl substituent, such as cortisol. At 37 degrees C the reverse was true. This temperature-dependent change in relative affinities appeared to be unrelated to steroid metabolism or receptor activation, and to depend only on the thermodynamic parameters of the steroid--receptor interaction. Relative biological activities for different steroids agree more closely with the relative affinities determined at 37 degrees C than with those determined at lower temperatures.