Androgen Receptor
Androgen Receptor (AR, NR3C4) is a steroid-hormone activated transcription factor of the nuclear hormone receptor family. Also known as the dihydrotestosterone receptor, it stimulates transcription of androgen responsive genes after binding its ligand. Browse Assay Genie's current range of Androgen Receptor research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
Androgen Receptor functions as a steroid-hormone activated transcription factor. In the absence of hormone it is associated with accessory proteins. Upon binding its hormone ligand, the receptor dissociates from these accessory proteins, translocates into the nucleus, dimerizes, and then stimulates transcription of androgen responsive genes. It belongs to the nuclear hormone receptor family, NR3 subfamily, and is classified by HGNC in nuclear receptor subfamily 3 group C.
The AR gene is more than 90 kb long and codes for a protein with three major functional domains: an N-terminal domain, a DNA-binding domain and an androgen-binding domain. The gene contains two polymorphic trinucleotide repeat segments, which encode polyglutamine and polyglycine tracts in the N-terminal transactivation domain. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants encoding different isoforms. One annotated isoform lacks the C-terminal ligand-binding domain and may therefore constitutively activate transcription of a specific set of genes independently of steroid hormones. Mouse and rat each have an orthologous Ar gene.
The receptor is also known as AIS, NR3C4, SMAX1, HUMARA and DHTR, and has previously been named the dihydrotestosterone receptor and spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy. These names reflect its disease associations. 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).
Androgen Receptor is a ligand-activated transcription factor that moves to the nucleus, dimerizes and drives androgen responsive gene expression.
Expansion of the polyglutamine tract in the N-terminal domain causes spinal bulbar muscular atrophy, also called Kennedy's disease.
Mutations in the AR gene are associated with complete androgen insensitivity (CAIS), making the receptor central to this area.
Alternative splicing yields multiple isoforms, including a form lacking the ligand-binding domain that may activate transcription independently of steroid hormones.
Androgen Receptor is a steroid-hormone activated transcription factor. After ligand binding it dissociates from accessory proteins, translocates into the nucleus, dimerizes and stimulates transcription of androgen responsive genes. It is found in both the nucleus and the cytoplasm.
AR is also called NR3C4, AIS, SMAX1, HUMARA and DHTR, and was formerly named the dihydrotestosterone receptor. Alternative splicing produces multiple transcript variants encoding different isoforms, including one lacking the C-terminal ligand-binding domain.
Yes. Polyglutamine tract expansion in AR causes spinal bulbar muscular atrophy (Kennedy's disease), and mutations are associated with complete androgen insensitivity. Mouse and rat have orthologous Ar genes; check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Other targets with similar-sounding symbols and signalling proteins with products at Assay Genie; these are not AR family members.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt P10275; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.