Gene Symbol

AR

Aliases

AIS, AR8, DHTR, HUMARA, HYSP1, KD, NR3C4, SBMA, SMAX1, TFM

Entrez Gene ID

367

Gene Name

Androgen receptor

Chromosomal Location

Xq12

HGNC ID

HGNC:644

Summary

The androgen receptor gene is more than 90 kb long and codes for a protein that has 3 major functional domains: the N-terminal domain, DNA-binding domain, and androgen-binding domain. The protein functions as a steroid-hormone activated transcription factor. Upon binding the hormone ligand, the receptor dissociates from accessory proteins, translocates into the nucleus, dimerizes, and then stimulates transcription of androgen responsive genes. This gene contains 2 polymorphic trinucleotide repeat segments that encode polyglutamine and polyglycine tracts in the N-terminal transactivation domain of its protein. Expansion of the polyglutamine tract from the normal 9-34 repeats to the pathogenic 38-62 repeats causes spinal bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA, also known as Kennedy's disease). Mutations in this gene are also associated with complete androgen insensitivity (CAIS). Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants encoding different isoforms. [provided by RefSeq, Jan 2017]

Function

Steroid hormone receptors are ligand-activated transcription factors that regulate eukaryotic gene expression and affect cellular proliferation and differentiation in target tissues. Transcription factor activity is modulated by bound coactivator and corepressor proteins like ZBTB7A that recruits NCOR1 and NCOR2 to the androgen response elements/ARE on target genes, negatively regulating androgen receptor signaling and androgen-induced cell proliferation (PubMed:20812024). Transcription activation is also down-regulated by NR0B2. Activated, but not phosphorylated, by HIPK3 and ZIPK/DAPK3. .; Isoform 3 and isoform 4 lack the C-terminal ligand-binding domain and may therefore constitutively activate the transcription of a specific set of genes independently of steroid hormones.

P10275

PDB

1E3G, 1GS4, 1T5Z, 1T63, 1T65, 1XJ7, 1XOW, 1XQ3, 1Z95, 2AM9, 2AMA, 2AMB, 2AO6, 2AX6, 2AX7, 2AX8, 2AX9, 2AXA, 2HVC, 2OZ7, 2PIO, 2PIP, 2PIQ, 2PIR, 2PIT, 2PIU, 2PIV, 2PIW, 2PIX, 2PKL, 2PNU, 2Q7I, 2Q7J, 2Q7K, 2Q7L, 2YHD, 2YLO, 2YLP, 2YLQ, 2Z4J, 3B5R, 3B65, 3B66, 3B67, 3B68, 3BTR, 3L3X, 3L3Z, 3RLJ, 3RLL, 3V49,

STRING	MINT	IntAct
ENSP00000233809		P18065

PMID: 22344533

Polymorphic CAG repeat in the androgen receptor gene in polycystic ovary syndrome patients. Xia Yanjie, Che Yena, Zhang Xinlin, Zhang Chengwei, Cao Yunxia, Wang Wenjun, Xu Pei, Wu Xiaoke, Yi Long, Gao Qian, Wang Yong Center for Translational Medicine and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, PR China. Mol Med Rep. 2012 May;5(5):1330-4. doi: 10.3892/mmr.2012.789. Epub 2012 Feb 13. Abstract Human androgen receptor (AR) contains a highly polymorphic polyglutamine tract encoded by CAG repeats [(CAG)n] in exon 1 of the AR gene. The CAG repeats, ranging from 11 to 38, have been reported to be inversely correlated with AR activity. A case-control study involving 261 polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients and 278 healthy controls was conducted. Fluorescently labeled DNA fragments containing (CAG)n were obtained by PCR and genotyped via capillary electrophoresis. AR (CAG)n ranges were 6, 12-28 in PCOS cases and 9, 10, 12-32 in controls. In the PCOS group, a higher frequency of short (CAG)n alleles was found compared with that of controls (P=0.007). Similarly, CAG biallelic mean distributions also showed statistical difference between the two groups (P=0.025). In conclusion, shorter alleles of the (CAG)n in exon 1 of the AR gene enhanced the susceptibility to PCOS, either by upregulating AR activity or by causing hyperandrogenism.