Filling the blank space: Branched 4-nonylphenols isomers are responsible for robust constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) activation by nonylphenol

4-Nonylphenol (4-NP), a para-substituted phenolic compound mixture comprising a straight or branched carbon chain, is a widespread ubiquitous environmental pollutant and food contaminant. 4-NP, particularly the branched form, has been identified as an endocrine disruptor with potent activities on estrogen nuclear receptors. Constitutive Androstane Receptor (CAR, NR1I3) is another crucial nuclear receptor that regulates hepatic lipid, glucose, and steroid metabolism and is involved in endocrine disruption mechanism. The nonylphenol mixture has been described as an extremely potent activator of both human and rodent CAR. However, detailed mechanistic aspects of CAR activation by NP are enigmatic and it is not known if 4-NP can directly interact with the CAR ligand binding domain (LBD). Here we examined interactions of individual branched (22NP, 33NP, and 353NP) and linear 4-NPs with CAR and its variants using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, cellular experiments with various CAR constructs or CAR ligand binding domain (LBD) mutants, or in differentiated HepaRG hepatocyte cellular model. Our results demonstrate that branched 4-NPs display more stable poses to activate both wild-type (wt)CAR1 as well as CAR3 variant LBDs in MD simulations. Consistently, branched 4-NP activated CAR3 and wtCAR1 LBD more efficiently than linear 4-NP or tert-nonylphenol (22NP). Furthermore, in HepaRG cells, we observed that all NP significantly up-regulated CYP2B6, a relevant hallmark for CAR activation. This is the first study to provide detailed insights into the direct interaction between individual 4-NPs and the human CAR-LBD, as well as its dominant variant CAR3 The work could contribute to the safer use of individual NPs in many areas of industry.