Biochemical and biophysical characterization of glucocorticoid receptors in normal lymphoid tissue.

3H-triamcinolone acetonide labeled glucocorticoid receptors in normal lymphoid tissues can be resolved into two component by DEAE chromatography: peak I elutes at 0.04 M salt and peak II is 0.22 M salt. By glycerol gradient centrifugation, peak I is 3.5S and peak II 8.5S. Peak I binds to DNA and chromatin, while peak II binds to neither. After heat activation, peak II alters its coefficient of sedimentation to 3.5S and on DEAE rechromatography changes its elution position to 0.04 M salt (peak I area) and acquires affinity for DNA. Glucocorticoid receptors in lymphoblastic leukemia cells can now be characterized using these techniques and compared to receptors in normal lymphoid cells.