Specific cytosol receptors for 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in human intestine.

Human intestine is shown to contain a specific, high affinity cytosol receptor or binding protein for 1,25-(OH)2-vitamin D3 [1,25 (OH)2D3]. This receptor is a protein which sediments at 3.5S on sucrose gradients containing 0.3 M KCL. The receptor binds 1,25 (OH)2D3 with a Kd of approximately 2 x 10(-10) M at 4 degrees C. Competition binding studies using structural analogs of 1,25 (OH)2D3 indicate that the relative specificity of the receptor is 1,25 (OH)2D3 greater than 1,24R,25(OH)3D3 greater than greater than 25OHD3 1 OHD3 greater than 24R,25(OH)2D3.