title: Regulation of aspartate aminotransferase messenger ribonucleic acid level by testosterone.
abstract: The effect of testosterone on precursor mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase (pmAAT) mRNA was studied in rat ventral prostate and primary cell cultures of mini-pig prostate. Testosterone induced a 2-3-fold increase in pmAAT mRNA level in both rat ventral prostate and mini-pig prostate cultures. The pmAAT mRNA induction occurred 30 min after testosterone treatment and was maximal by 1.5 h. Prostatic mAAT activity was also induced by testosterone with a 1-2 h lag period. The time-course of induction of pmAAT mRNA, pmAAT activity and mAAT activity was consistent with stimulation of mRNA synthesis followed by increased synthesis and import of pmAAT into mitochondria. The effect of testosterone on pmAAT mRNA was specific because the increase in pmAAT mRNA was at least 2-fold greater than the increase in poly (A+) RNA. These results suggest that testosterone stimulated mAAT activity by induction of pmAAT mRNA. This continues to support our proposal that a major physiological effect of testosterone is increased pmAAT mRNA steady-state levels which result in increased pmAAT synthesis and increased mAAT activity. These changes ultimately result in increased citrate production by prostate epithelial cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, Dental School, University of Maryland, Baltimore 21201.
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Franklin
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Costello
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D011467:Prostate / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature; D013739:Testosterone / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013739:Testosterone; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases