title: Glutamic acid 709 substitutions highlight the importance of the interaction between androgen receptor helices H3 and H12 for androgen and antiandrogen actions.
abstract: The mutation of a single amino acid in the ligand binding domain of the human androgen receptor (AR) can induce functional abnormalities; for example, in androgen binding or interactions with coregulators. We report here on the structure/function analysis of the ARE709K substitution that is associated with partial androgen insensitivity syndrome. We introduced several mutations at position 709 and tested the consequences of these changes on AR structure and activity in the presence of androgen and antiandrogens. Our results demonstrate that a strong interaction between helix H12 and residue 709 in H3 is required to obtain a fully functional AR. We show that glutamic acid 709 can be replaced by a bulky tyrosine residue without significant effect on the activation by agonists. In contrast, smaller or linear residues that are unable to maintain a tight interaction with H12 induce a substantial loss of androgen-induced AR activity. We also show that the agonist activity of partial antiandrogens is dependent on the side-chain residue at position 709. Strikingly, the ARE709Y substitution causes the conversion of cyproterone acetate into a pure antiandrogen and bicalutamide into a partial agonist. Together, our structural and functional data reveal the key role of glutamic acid 709 in androgenic and antiandrogenic activities.
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Unité 540, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Montpellier 1, F-34090 Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Virginie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Georget
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bourguet
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lumbroso
authors.forename: Salouah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Makni
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sultan
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Nicolas
mesh_terms: D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D013734:Androgen-Insensitivity Syndrome / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000728:Androgens / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002460:Cell Line; D017373:Cyproterone Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008958:Models, Molecular; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D009154:Mutation; D011487:Protein Conformation; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C410798:AR protein, human; D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D000728:Androgens; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D017373:Cyproterone Acetate