An interdomain interaction of the androgen receptor is required for its aggregation and toxicity in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2010

Abstract

Polyglutamine expansion within the androgen receptor (AR) causes spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) and is associated with misfolded and aggregated species of the mutant AR. We showed previously that nuclear localization of the mutant AR was necessary but not sufficient for SBMA. Here we show that an interdomain interaction of the AR that is central to its function within the nucleus is required for AR aggregation and toxicity. Ligands that prevent the interaction between the amino-terminal FXXLF motif and carboxyl-terminal AF-2 domain (N/C interaction) prevented toxicity and AR aggregation in an SBMA cell model and rescued primary SBMA motor neurons from 5a-dihydrotestosterone- induced toxicity. Moreover, genetic mutation of the FXXLF motif prevented AR aggregation and 5a-dihydrotestosterone toxicity. Finally, selective androgen receptor modulators, which prevent the N/C interaction, ameliorated AR aggregation and toxicity while maintaining AR function, highlighting a novel therapeutic strategy to prevent the SBMA phenotype while retaining AR transcriptional function. © 2010 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

Publication Title

Journal of Biological Chemistry

Volume

285

Issue

46

First Page

35567

Last Page

35577

Comments

This article was published in Journal of Biological Chemistry, Volume 285, Issue 46, Pages 35567-35577.

The published version is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M110.146845.

Copyright © 2010 ASBMB.

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