title: Androgen receptor (AR) coregulators: an overview.
abstract: The biological action of androgens is mediated through the androgen receptor (AR). Androgen-bound AR functions as a transcription factor to regulate genes involved in an array of physiological processes, most notably male sexual differentiation and maturation, and the maintenance of spermatogenesis. The transcriptional activity of AR is affected by coregulators that influence a number of functional properties of AR, including ligand selectivity and DNA binding capacity. As the promoter of target genes, coregulators participate in DNA modification, either directly through modification of histones or indirectly by the recruitment of chromatin-modifying complexes, as well as functioning in the recruitment of the basal transcriptional machinery. Aberrant coregulator activity due to mutation or altered expression levels may be a contributing factor in the progression of diseases related to AR activity, such as prostate cancer. AR demonstrates distinct differences in its interaction with coregulators from other steroid receptors due to differences in the functional interaction between AR domains, possibly resulting in alterations in the dynamic interactions between coregulator complexes.
authors.affiliation: George Whipple Laboratory for Cancer Research, Department of Pathology, University of Rochester, New York 14642, USA.
authors.forename: Cynthia A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Heinlein
authors.forename: Chawnshang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation / Q000502:physiology; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D014157:Transcription Factors