Incubation of crude estrogen receptor preparations from mammary tumor cytosol with RNase A increases the sedimentation coefficient of the receptor from 9.7 S to 10.4 S. The effect is not obtained with other low molecular weight basic proteins (lysozyme, cytochrome c, or histone H2B). Nonenzymically active RNase A derivatives such as performic acid oxidized RNase A, fully reductively methylated RNase A, carboxymethyl-His-119-RNase A, and RNase S-protein were ineffective. RNase T1, an acidic endoribonuclease, was also without effect. However, enzymically active RNase S', prepared from a mixture of RNase S-protein and S-peptide, shifted the sedimentation to 10.4 S. The increased sedimentation is not accompanied by a change in the Stokes radius of the receptor (74 A) or buoyant density in metrizamide (1.24 g/ml). The effect of RNase A on the sedimentation of the receptor can be reversed by subsequent incubation with human placental RNase inhibitor or with rabbit anti-RNase A antibodies. Direct interaction was shown by chromatography of the receptor on RNase A Sepharose. Thus, the shift in sedimentation results from binding of RNase A to the receptor and, although this requires that the enzyme active site be available, enzymic activity is not responsible for the effect. The interaction of RNase A with the receptor occurs at low ionic strength; it does not occur at elevated ionic strength or after activation of the receptor by precipitation with ammonium sulfate.
