Retinoid X Receptor Regulates Nur77/Thyroid Hormone Receptor 3-Dependent Apoptosis by Modulating Its Nuclear Export and Mitochondrial Targeting

Abstract

Retinoid X receptor (RXR) plays a central role in the regulation of intracellular receptor signaling pathways by acting as a ubiquitous heterodimerization partner of many nuclear receptors, including the orphan receptor Nur77 (also known as thyroid hormone receptor 3 or NGFI-B), which translocates from the nucleus to mitochondria, where it interacts with Bcl-2 to induce apoptosis. Here, we report that RXRα is required for nuclear export and mitochondrial targeting of Nur77 through their unique heterodimerization that is mediated by dimerization interfaces located in their DNA-binding domain. The effects of RXRα are attributed to a putative nuclear export sequence (NES) present in its carboxyl-terminal region. RXRα ligands suppress NES activity by inducing RXRα homodimerization or altering RXRα/Nur77 heterodimerization. The RXRα NES is also silenced by RXRα heterodimerization with retinoic acid receptor or vitamin D receptor. Consistently, we were able to show that the mitochondrial targeting of the RXRα/Nur77 heterodimer and its induction of apoptosis are potently inhibited by RXR ligands. Together, our results reveal a novel nongenotropic function of RXRα and its involvement in the regulation of the Nur77-dependent apoptotic pathway.