Three-step purification of glucocorticoid receptors from rat liver.

The 90 000-Mr glucocorticoid receptor was purified to homogeneity according to sodium dodecylsulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. An affinity column containing either dexamethasone-17 beta-carboxylic acid or dexamethasone-21-methanesulfonate bound to the matrix with the help of a disulfide bond is used in this study. Using this affinity matrix, in a single step, 8700-fold purification of glucocorticoid receptor from rat liver cytosol could be achieved. Following the method of activation and DNA-cellulose chromatography the 90 000-Mr receptor subunit was purified to homogeneity.