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.
Categories
Primary Antibodies
Cellular Localization
Cytoplasm, Nucleus
Clonality
polyclonal
Description
Androgen receptor (AR) also konwn as Dihydrotestosterone receptor (DHTR), Nuclear receptor subfamily 3 group C member 4 (NR3C4).It is one of steriod hormoen receptors, which 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. Transcription activation is down-regulated by NR0B2. Activated, but not phosphorylated, by HIPK3 and ZIPK/DAPK3.Defects in AR are the cause of androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS).Affected males have female external genitalia, female breast development, blind vagina, absent uterus and female adnexa, and abdominal or inguinal testes, despite a normal 46,XY karyotype.Defects in AR are the cause of spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy X-linked type 1 (SMAX1). In SMAX1 patients the number of Gln ranges from 38 to 62. Longer expansions result in earlier onset and more severe clinical manifestations of the disease.Defects in AR may play a role in metastatic prostate cancer. The mutated receptor stimulates prostate growth and metastases development despite of androgen ablation. This treatment can reduce primary and metastatic lesions probably by inducing apoptosis of tumor cells when they express the wild-type receptor.Defects in AR are the cause of androgen insensitivity syndrome partial (PAIS). PAIS is characterized by hypospadias, hypogonadism, gynecomastia, genital ambiguity, normal XY karyotype, and a pedigree pattern consistent with X-linked recessive inheritance. Some patients present azoospermia or severe oligospermia without other clinical manifestations.This antibody is a rabbit polyclonal antibody. It can specifically recognize the 110kd AR protein.