The 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,2vitamin D3] analog KH1060 exerts very potent effects on cell proliferation and cell differentiation via the vitamin D receptor (VDR). However, the activities of KH1060 are not associated with an increased affinity for the VDR. We now show that increased stabilization of the VDR-KH1060 complex could be an explanation for its high potencies. VDR half-life studies performed with cycloheximide-translational blocked rat osteoblast-like ROS 17/2.8 cells demonstrated that, in the absence of ligand, VDR levels rapidly decreased. After 2 hr, less than 10% of the initial VDR level could be measured. In the presence of 1,25-(OH)2vitamin D3, the VDR half-life was 15 hr. After 24 hr, less than 20% of the initial VDR content was detectable, whereas, at this time-point, when the cells were incubated with KH1060 80% of the VDR was still present. Differences in 1,25-(OH)2vitamin D3-and KH1060-induced conformational changes of the VDR could underlie the increased VDR stability. As assessed by limited proteolytic digestion analysis, both 1,25-(OH)2vitamin D3 and KH1060 caused a specific conformational change of the VDR. Compared with 1,25-(OH)2vitamin D3, KH1060 induced a conformational change that led to a far more dramatic protection of the VDR against proteolytic degradation. In conclusion, the altered VDR stability and the possibly underlying change in VDR conformation caused by KH1060 could be an explanation for its enhanced bioactivity.Besides the traditional effects on calcium and phosphate metabolism (1), the effects of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25-(OH)2vitamin D3] on cellular differentiation and proliferation and on immunological processes (2) might have relevance for the treatment of hyperproliferative and autoimmune diseases. However, the side effects (hypercalcemia and hypercalciuria) induced by the high doses needed to achieve these effects limit the use of 1,25-(OH)2vitamin D3 in clinical practice. This has prompted the development of new 1,25-(OH)2vitamin D3 analogs with reduced calcemic activity.Previous studies have shown that modifications in the side chain of the 1,25-(OH)2vitamin D3 molecule can lead to far more potent analogs. One of the most potent analogs until now, 20-Epi-22-oxa-24a,26a,27a-tri-homo-1,25-(OH)2vitamin D3 (KH1060) (3), is a strong inhibitor of tumor cell growth (4, 5) and an inducer of cell differentiation (4, 6, 7). KH1060 also exhibits strong immunosuppressive activity in both in vitro and in vivo studies (4,8,9). Furthermore, KH1060 is more potent than 1,25-(OH)2vitamin D3 in stimulating in vivo and in vitro bone resorption and osteoclast recruitment in murine bone marrow cultures (4,7,10).The differences in biological activity between 1,25-(OH)2vitamin D3 and KH1060 could not be explained by an increased affinity for the vitamin D receptor (VDR) (4, 5, 7). However, the presence of a (functional) VDR is essential for the biological responses of 1,25-(OH)2vitamin D3 and KH1060 (7,11,12). It is known that, through binding to the VDR, 1,25-(OH)2vitam...