title: Specificity of ligand-dependent androgen receptor stabilization: receptor domain interactions influence ligand dissociation and receptor stability.
abstract: The molecular basis for the different physiological effects of testosterone (T) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) was investigated using recombinantly expressed wild-type and mutant androgen receptor (AR). Rates of androgen dissociation from nuclear and cytoplasmic AR were compared with hormone- and concentration-dependent receptor degradation rates. T dissociates from AR 3 times faster than DHT or methyltrienolone (R1881) and is less effective in stabilizing the receptor. Analysis of AR deletion mutants and AR/glucocorticoid receptor chimeras indicates that the AR NH2-terminal domain has a specific role in stabilizing the receptor by slowing the rate of ligand dissociation and AR degradation. Amino acid mutations that abolish receptor dimerization, nuclear localization, or DNA-binding activity have no significant effect on androgen dissociation or AR degradation. A naturally occurring steroid-binding domain mutation (Val889 to Met) that causes androgen insensitivity, but does not alter equilibrium androgen binding affinity, lowered the androgen-binding capacity as a result of increased rates of androgen dissociation and AR degradation. Thus, AR stabilization and function require prolonged receptor occupancy with androgen, with a similar extent of stabilization observed at higher concentrations of faster dissociating androgens and lower concentrations of slower dissociating androgens. Retention of receptor-bound androgen is enhanced by an interaction between the AR NH2-terminal and steroid-binding domains. The ligand specificity and concentration dependence of receptor stabilization provide an explanation for physiological differences in the actions of T and DHT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599, USA.
authors.forename: Z X
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Lane
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Kemppainen
authors.forename: F S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: French
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D007700:Kinetics; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D013739:Testosterone