Novel membrane-associated androgen receptor splice variant potentiates proliferative and survival responses in prostate cancer cells.

ABSTRACT: Progression from the androgen-sensitive to androgen-insensitive (or castration-resistant) stage is the major obstacle for sustained effectiveness of hormonal therapy for prostate cancer. The androgen receptor (AR) and its splice variants play important roles in regulating the transcription program essential for castration resistance. Here, we report the identification of a novel AR splice variant, designated as AR8, which is up-regulated in castration-resistant prostate cancer cells. AR8 is structurally different from other known AR splice variants because it lacks a DNA binding domain and therefore, unlikely functions as a transcription factor on its own. Immunofluorescence staining revealed that AR8 was primarily localized on the plasma membrane, possibly through palmitoylation of two cy

SUBMITTER: Yang X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3195613 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature