The androgen receptor (AR), a member of a superfamily of ligand-activated nuclear transcription factors, mediates the biological functions of androgens in prostate development, growth, function, tumorigenesis, and cancer progression. Androgen ablation therapy, while effective at early androgen-dependent stages, fails at the androgen-independent stages of advanced prostate cancer. Although these tumors are clinically androgen-independent, they appear to remain androgen receptor-dependent through mechanisms that are not effectively blocked by androgen deprivation therapy. Androgen-independent progression has been associated with mutations and amplification of the androgen receptor gene and with activation of intracellular signaling pathways that stimulate androgen receptor function. A detailed understanding of the molecular mechanisms by which androgen receptor activates/represses key target genes would provide insights into the role of androgens in growth and development of the prostate and in development and progression of prostate cancer. Androgen receptor direct target genes that play key regulatory roles in prostate development, maintenance, and tumorigenesis are poorly defined. The general objective of this proposal is to identify AR direct target genes as a basis for understanding AR functions in survival, differentiation, and proliferation of cells of the prostate, as well as early events leading to prostate cancer, and to investigate the mechanism of action of AR and various identified AR cofactors on these genes. Toward this objective we will (i) identify genes that are targeted directly by AR; (ii) determine the gene specificity of various identified AR cofactors; (iii) investigate AR and cognate cofactor functions in cell-free transcription systems reconstituted with general initiation factors. This approach may provide insights into development of new drugs that target the androgen receptor pathway downstream of the point of ligand-receptor interaction.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DK065156-03
Application #
6876623
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZDK1-GRB-6 (M1))
Program Officer
Margolis, Ronald N
Project Start
2003-07-15
Project End
2008-04-30
Budget Start
2005-05-01
Budget End
2006-04-30
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2005
Total Cost
$279,350
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Department
Biology
Type
Other Domestic Higher Education
DUNS #
800772139
City
Houston
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
77030
Zhou, Liran; Hosohata, Keiko; Gao, Shen et al. (2013) cGMP-dependent protein kinase I* interacts with p44/WDR77 to regulate androgen receptor-driven gene expression. PLoS One 8:e63119
Gu, Zhongping; Li, Yirong; Lee, Peng et al. (2012) Protein arginine methyltransferase 5 functions in opposite ways in the cytoplasm and nucleus of prostate cancer cells. PLoS One 7:e44033
Qi, Wei; Gao, Shen; Chu, Jun et al. (2012) Negative androgen-response elements mediate androgen-dependent transcriptional inhibition of TGF-?1 and CDK2 promoters in the prostate gland. J Androl 33:27-36
Gu, Zhongping; Zhou, Liran; Gao, Shen et al. (2011) Nuclear transport signals control cellular localization and function of androgen receptor cofactor p44/WDR77. PLoS One 6:e22395
Gao, Shen; Wu, Hong; Wang, Fen et al. (2010) Altered differentiation and proliferation of prostate epithelium in mice lacking the androgen receptor cofactor p44/WDR77. Endocrinology 151:3941-53
Zhang, Yiming; Gao, Shen; Wang, Zhengxin (2010) Structural and functional analysis of amino-terminal enhancer of split in androgen-receptor-driven transcription. Biochem J 427:499-511
Peng, Yi; Chen, Fei; Melamed, Jonathan et al. (2008) Distinct nuclear and cytoplasmic functions of androgen receptor cofactor p44 and association with androgen-independent prostate cancer. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 105:5236-41
Qi, Wei; Gao, Shen; Wang, Zhengxin (2008) Transcriptional regulation of the TGF-beta1 promoter by androgen receptor. Biochem J 416:453-62
Qi, Wei; Wu, Hong; Yang, Lin et al. (2007) A novel function of caspase-8 in the regulation of androgen-receptor-driven gene expression. EMBO J 26:65-75
Gao, Shen; Wang, Hua; Lee, Peng et al. (2006) Androgen receptor and prostate apoptosis response factor-4 target the c-FLIP gene to determine survival and apoptosis in the prostate gland. J Mol Endocrinol 36:463-83

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