The androgen receptor (AR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that regulates gene expression in response to the steroids testosterone and dihydrotestosterone. AR-dependent gene expression is likely to play an important role in a number of receptor-associated disorders, such as prostate cancer, spinal bulbar muscular atrophy, male type baldness and hirsutism. The AR contains two transactivation domains, termed AF1 (activation function 1) located in the N-terminus and AF2 (activation function 2) in the C-terminal ligand-binding domain. AF2 exhibits weak transcriptional activity, whereas AF1 is a strong regulator of transcription. Transcriptional regulation by AF1 is thought to be modulated by a number of proteins that interact with this region, and by post-translational modifications. Our focus is on the N-terminal-interacting proteins and their regulation of transcription via interaction with the receptor. To better understand the mechanism of AR-AF1 action, we have reconstituted AR activity in HeLa nuclear extracts using a unique dual reporter gene assay. Multiple LexA-binding sites in the promoter allow transcription to be driven by a recombinant AR-AF1–Lex fusion protein. The findings from initial experiments suggest an increase in transcription initiation and elongation rates by AR-AF1–Lex. The role of protein–protein interactions involving co-activators and basal transcription factors and AR-AF1 activity are discussed.
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Conference Article|
October 26 2004
In vitro regulation of reporter gene transcription by the androgen receptor AF1 domain
M.A. Choudhry;
M.A. Choudhry
1
1School of Medical Sciences, IMS Building, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, Scotland, U.K.
1To whom correspondence should be addressed (email m.a.choudhry@abdn.ac.uk).
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I.J. McEwan
I.J. McEwan
1School of Medical Sciences, IMS Building, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, Scotland, U.K.
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
July 30 2004
Online ISSN: 1470-8752
Print ISSN: 0300-5127
© 2004 The Biochemical Society
2004
Biochem Soc Trans (2004) 32 (6): 1103–1106.
Article history
Received:
July 30 2004
Citation
M.A. Choudhry, I.J. McEwan; In vitro regulation of reporter gene transcription by the androgen receptor AF1 domain. Biochem Soc Trans 1 November 2004; 32 (6): 1103–1106. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/BST0321103
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