Filamin-A fragment localizes to the nucleus to regulate androgen receptor and coactivator functions

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2003 Apr 15;100(8):4562-7. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0736237100. Epub 2003 Apr 7.

Abstract

The androgen receptor (AR), a nuclear transcription factor, mediates male sexual differentiation, and its excessive action is associated with prostate cancer. We have characterized a negative regulatory domain in the AR hinge region, which interacted with filamin A (FLNa), an actin-binding cytoskeletal protein. FLNa interfered with AR interdomain interactions and competed with the coactivator transcriptional intermediary factor 2 to specifically down-regulate AR function. Although full-length FLNa was predominantly cytoplasmic, a C-terminal 100-kDa fragment of FLNa colocalized with AR to the nucleus. This naturally occurring FLNa fragment repressed AR transactivation and disrupted AR interdomain interactions and transcriptional intermediary factor 2-activated AR function in a manner reminiscent of full-length FLNa, raising the possibility that the inhibitory effects of cytoplasmic FLNa may be transduced through this fragment, which can localize to the nucleus and form part of the pre-initiation complex. This unanticipated role of FLNa adds to the growing evidence for the involvement of cytoskeletal proteins in transcription regulation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Binding Sites
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Contractile Proteins / chemistry
  • Contractile Proteins / metabolism*
  • Filamins
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Male
  • Microfilament Proteins / chemistry
  • Microfilament Proteins / metabolism*
  • Models, Biological
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutation
  • Nuclear Receptor Coactivator 2
  • Peptide Fragments / chemistry
  • Peptide Fragments / metabolism
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / genetics
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Receptors, Androgen / chemistry
  • Receptors, Androgen / genetics
  • Receptors, Androgen / metabolism*
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Transcriptional Activation
  • Two-Hybrid System Techniques

Substances

  • Contractile Proteins
  • Filamins
  • Microfilament Proteins
  • Nuclear Receptor Coactivator 2
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Receptors, Androgen
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Transcription Factors