Androgen receptor regulates nuclear trafficking and nuclear domain residency of corepressor HDAC7 in a ligand-dependent fashion

Phase Separation Mediated Sub-Nuclear Compartmentalization of Androgen Receptors

The androgen receptor (AR), a member of the nuclear steroid hormone receptor family of transcription factors, plays a crucial role not only in the development of the male phenotype but also in the development and growth of prostate cancer. While AR structure and AR interactions with coregulators and chromatin have been studied in detail, improving our understanding of AR function in gene transcription regulation, the spatio-temporal organization and the role of microscopically discernible AR foci in the nucleus are still underexplored. This review delves into the molecular mechanisms underlying AR foci formation, focusing on liquid-liquid phase separation and its role in spatially organizing ARs and their binding partners within the nucleus at transcription sites, as well as the influence of 3D-genome organization on AR-mediated gene transcription.

Histone deacetylase 7: a signalling hub controlling development, inflammation, metabolism and disease

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) catalyse removal of acetyl groups from lysine residues on both histone and non-histone proteins to control numerous cellular processes. Of the 11 zinc-dependent classical HDACs, HDAC4, 5, 7 and 9 are class IIa HDAC enzymes that regulate cellular and developmental processes through both enzymatic and non-enzymatic mechanisms. Over the last two decades, HDAC7 has been associated with key roles in numerous physiological and pathological processes. Molecular, cellular, in vivo and disease association studies have revealed that HDAC7 acts through multiple mechanisms to control biological processes in immune cells, osteoclasts, muscle, the endothelium and epithelium. This HDAC protein regulates gene expression, cell proliferation, cell differentiation and cell survival and consequently controls development, angiogenesis, immune functions, inflammation and metabolism. This review focuses on the cell biology of HDAC7, including the regulation of its cellular localisation and molecular mechanisms of action, as well as its associative and causal links with cancer and inflammatory, metabolic and fibrotic diseases. We also review the development status of small molecule inhibitors targeting HDAC7 and their potential for intervention in different disease contexts.

Evidence that HDAC7 acts as an epigenetic "reader" of AR acetylation through NCoR-HDAC3 dissociation

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) proteins are epigenetic regulators that govern a wide variety of cellular events. With a role in cancer formation, HDAC inhibitors have emerged as anti-cancer therapeutics. Among the eleven metal-dependent class I, II, and IV HDAC proteins targeted by inhibitor drugs, class IIa HDAC4, -5, -7, and -9 harbor low deacetylase activity and are hypothesized to be "reader" proteins, which bind to post-translationally acetylated lysine. However, evidence linking acetyllysine binding to a downstream functional event is lacking. Here, we report for the first time that HDAC4, -5, and -7 dissociated from corepressor NCoR in the presence of an acetyllysine-containing peptide, consistent with reader function. Documenting the biological consequences of this possible reader function, mutation of a critical acetylation site regulated androgen receptor (AR) transcriptional activation function through HDAC7-NCoR-HDAC3 dissociation. The data document the first evidence consistent with epigenetic-reader functions of class IIa HDAC proteins.

Roles of Key Epigenetic Regulators in the Gene Transcription and Progression of Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a top-incidence malignancy, and the second most common cause of death amongst American men and the fifth leading cause of cancer death in men around the world. Androgen receptor (AR), the key transcription factor, is critical for the progression of PCa by regulating a series of target genes by androgen stimulation. A number of co-regulators of AR, including co-activators or co-repressors, have been implicated in AR-mediated gene transcription and PCa progression. Epigenetic regulators, by modifying chromatin integrity and accessibility for transcription regulation without altering DNA sequences, influence the transcriptional activity of AR and further regulate the gene expression of AR target genes in determining cell fate, PCa progression and therapeutic response. In this review, we summarized the structural interaction of AR and epigenetic regulators including histone or DNA methylation, histone acetylation or non-coding RNA, and functional synergy in PCa progression. Importantly, epigenetic regulators have been validated as diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets. A series of epigenetic target drugs have been developed, and have demonstrated the potential to treat PCa alone or in combination with antiandrogens.

Epigenetic Editing in Prostate Cancer: Challenges and Opportunities

Epigenome editing consists of fusing a predesigned DNA recognition unit to the catalytic domain of a chromatin modifying enzyme leading to the introduction or removal of an epigenetic mark at a specific locus. These platforms enabled the study of the mechanisms and roles of epigenetic changes in several research domains such as those addressing pathogenesis and progression of cancer. Despite the continued efforts required to overcome some limitations, which include specificity, off-target effects, efficacy, and longevity, these tools have been rapidly progressing and improving.Since prostate cancer is characterized by multiple genetic and epigenetic alterations that affect different signalling pathways, epigenetic editing constitutes a promising strategy to hamper cancer progression. Therefore, by modulating chromatin structure through epigenome editing, its conformation might be better understood and events that drive prostate carcinogenesis might be further unveiled.This review describes the different epigenome engineering tools, their mechanisms concerning gene's expression and regulation, highlighting the challenges and opportunities concerning prostate cancer research.

Phasing the intranuclear organization of steroid hormone receptors

Steroid receptors (SRs) encompass a family of transcription factors that regulate the expression of thousands of genes upon binding to steroid hormones and include the glucocorticoid, androgen, progesterone, estrogen and mineralocorticoid receptors. SRs control key physiological and pathological processes, thus becoming relevant drug targets. As with many other nuclear proteins, hormone-activated SRs concentrate in multiple discrete foci within the cell nucleus. Even though these foci were first observed ∼25 years ago, their exact structure and function remained elusive. In the last years, new imaging methodologies and theoretical frameworks improved our understanding of the intranuclear organization. These studies led to a new paradigm stating that many membraneless nuclear compartments, including transcription-related foci, form through a liquid–liquid phase separation process. These exciting ideas impacted the SR field by raising the hypothesis of SR foci as liquid condensates involved in transcriptional regulation. In this work, we review the current knowledge about SR foci formation under the light of the condensate model, analyzing how these structures may impact SR function. These new ideas, combined with state-of-the-art techniques, may shed light on the biophysical mechanisms governing the formation of SR foci and the biological function of these structures in normal physiology and disease.

Mapping of cis-acting expression quantitative trait loci in human scalp hair follicles

BACKGROUND

The association of molecular phenotypes, such as gene transcript levels, with human common genetic variation can help to improve our understanding of interindividual variability of tissue-specific gene regulation and its implications for disease.

METHODS

With the aim to capture the spectrum of biological processes affected by regulatory common genetic variants (minor allele frequency ≥ 1%) in healthy hair follicles (HFs) from scalp tissue, we performed a genome-wide mapping of cis-acting expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) in plucked HFs, and applied these eQTLs to help further explain genomic findings for hair-related traits.

RESULTS

We report 374 high-confidence eQTLs found in occipital scalp tissue, whose associated genes (eGenes) showed enrichments for metabolic, mitotic and immune processes, as well as responses to steroid hormones. We were able to replicate 68 of these associations in a smaller, independent dataset, in either frontal and/or occipital scalp tissue. Furthermore, we found three genomic regions overlapping reported genetic loci for hair shape and hair color. We found evidence to confirm the contributions of PADI3 to human variation in hair traits and suggest a novel potential candidate gene within known loci for androgenetic alopecia.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study shows that an array of basic cellular functions relevant for hair growth are genetically regulated within the HF, and can be applied to aid the interpretation of interindividual variability on hair traits, as well as genetic findings for common hair disorders.

Recapitulation of prostate tissue cell type-specific transcriptomes by an in vivo primary prostate tissue xenograft model

Studies of the normal functions and diseases of the prostate request in vivo models that maintain the tissue architecture and the multiple-cell type compartments of human origin in order to recapitulate reliably the interactions of different cell types. Cell type-specific transcriptomes are critical to reveal the roles of each cell type in the functions and diseases of the prostate. A primary prostate tissue xenograft model was developed using fresh human prostate tissue specimens transplanted onto male mice that were castrated surgically and implanted with a device to maintain circulating testosterone levels comparable to adult human males. Endothelial cells and epithelial cells were isolated from 7 fresh human prostate tissue specimens and from primary tissue xenografts established from 9 fresh human prostate tissue specimens, using antibody-conjugated magnetic beads specific to human CD31 and human EpCAM, respectively. Transcriptomes of endothelial, epithelial and stromal cell fractions were obtained using RNA-Seq. Global and function-specific gene expression profiles were compared in inter-cell type and inter-tissue type manners. Gene expression profiles in the individual cell types isolated from xenografts were similar to those of cells isolated from fresh tissue, demonstrating the value of the primary tissue xenograft model for studies of the inter-relationships between prostatic cell types and the role of such inter-relationships in organ development, disease progression, and response to drug treatments.

Transcriptional repression by androgen receptor: roles in castration-resistant prostate cancer

Androgen receptor (AR), a hormonal transcription factor, plays important roles during prostate cancer progression and is a key target for therapeutic interventions. While androgen-deprivation therapies are initially successful in regressing prostate tumors, the disease ultimately comes back as castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) or at the late stage as neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC). CRPC remains largely dependent on hyperactive AR signaling in the milieu of low androgen, while NEPC is negative of AR expression but positive of many AR-repressed genes. Recent technological advances in genome-wide analysis of transcription factor binding sites have revealed an unprecedented set of AR target genes. In addition to its well-known function in activating gene expression, AR is increasingly known to also act as a transcriptional repressor. Here, we review the molecular mechanisms by which AR represses gene expression. We also summarize AR-repressed genes that are aberrantly upregulated in CRPC and NEPC and represent promising targets for therapeutic intervention.

Lysine Acetylation Goes Global: From Epigenetics to Metabolism and Therapeutics

Post-translational acetylation of lysine residues has emerged as a key regulatory mechanism in all eukaryotic organisms. Originally discovered in 1963 as a unique modification of histones, acetylation marks are now found on thousands of nonhistone proteins located in virtually every cellular compartment. Here we summarize key findings in the field of protein acetylation over the past 20 years with a focus on recent discoveries in nuclear, cytoplasmic, and mitochondrial compartments. Collectively, these findings have elevated protein acetylation as a major post-translational modification, underscoring its physiological relevance in gene regulation, cell signaling, metabolism, and disease.

Epigenomic Regulation of Androgen Receptor Signaling: Potential Role in Prostate Cancer Therapy

Androgen receptor (AR) signaling remains the major oncogenic pathway in prostate cancer (PCa). Androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) is the principle treatment for locally advanced and metastatic disease. However, a significant number of patients acquire treatment resistance leading to castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Epigenetics, the study of heritable and reversible changes in gene expression without alterations in DNA sequences, is a crucial regulatory step in AR signaling. We and others, recently described the technological advance Chem-seq, a method to identify the interaction between a drug and the genome. This has permitted better understanding of the underlying regulatory mechanisms of AR during carcinogenesis and revealed the importance of epigenetic modifiers. In screening for new epigenomic modifiying drugs, we identified SD-70, and found that this demethylase inhibitor is effective in CRPC cells in combination with current therapies. The aim of this review is to explore the role of epigenetic modifications as biomarkers for detection, prognosis, and risk evaluation of PCa. Furthermore, we also provide an update of the recent findings on the epigenetic key processes (DNA methylation, chromatin modifications and alterations in noncoding RNA profiles) involved in AR expression and their possible role as therapeutic targets.

Deletion of histone deacetylase 7 in osteoclasts decreases bone mass in mice by interactions with MITF

Molecular regulators of osteoclast formation and function are an important area of research due to the central role of osteoclasts in bone resorption. Transcription factors such as MITF are essential for osteoclast generation by regulating expression of the genes required for cellular differentiation and resorptive function. We recently reported that histone deacetylase 7 (HDAC7) binds to and represses the transcriptional activity of MITF in osteoclasts, and that loss of HDAC7 in vitro accelerated osteoclastogenesis. In the current study, we extend this initial observation by showing that conditional deletion of HDAC7 in osteoclasts of mice leads to an in vivo enhancement in osteoclast formation, associated with increased bone resorption and lower bone mass. Expression of multiple MITF target genes is increased in bone marrow derived osteoclast cultures from the HDAC7 knockout mice. Interestingly, multiple regions of the HDAC7 amino-terminus can bind to MITF or exert repressive activity. Moreover, mutation or deletion of the HDAC7 conserved deacetylase catalytic domain had little effect on repressive function. These observations identify HDAC7 in osteoclasts as an important molecular regulator of MITF activity and bone homeostasis, but also highlight a gap in our understanding of exactly how HDAC7 functions as a corepressor.

Regulation of the androgen receptor by post-translational modifications

The androgen receptor (AR) is a key molecule in prostate cancer and Kennedy's disease. Understanding the regulatory mechanisms of this steroid receptor is important in the development of potential therapies for these diseases. One layer of AR regulation is provided by post-translational modifications including phosphorylation, acetylation, sumoylation, ubiquitination and methylation. While these modifications have mostly been studied as individual events, it is becoming clear that these modifications can functionally interact with each other in a signalling pathway. In this review, the effects of all modifications are described with a focus on interplay between them and the functional consequences for the AR.

Biology of castration-recurrent prostate cancer

Although androgen-deprivation therapy is the standard therapy for advanced and metastatic prostate cancer, this treatment is only palliative. Prostate cancer recurs then grows despite low circulating testicular androgens, using several mechanisms that remain dependent on androgen-receptor signaling in most cases. This article reviews the diversity of mechanisms used for growth by castration-recurrent prostate cancer.

Dissociating behavioral, autonomic, and neuroendocrine effects of androgen steroids in animal models

Developments in behavioral assessment, autonomic and/or baseline reactivity, psychopharmacology, and genetics, have contributed significantly to the assessment of performance-enhancing drugs in animal models. Particular classes of steroid hormones: androgenic steroids are of interest. Anecdotally, the performance enhancing effects of androgens are attributed to anabolic events. However, there is a discrepancy between anecdotal evidence and investigative data. While some androgen steroids may promote muscle growth (myogenesis), effects of androgens on performance enhancement are not always seen. Indeed, some effects of androgens on performance may be attributable to their psychological and cardiovascular effects. As such, we consider androgen effects in terms of their behavioral, autonomic, and neuroendocrine components. Techniques are discussed in this chapter, some of which are well established, while others have been more recently developed to study androgen action. Androgens may be considered for their positive impact, negative consequence, or psychotropic properties. Thus, this review aims to elucidate some of the effects and/or mechanisms of androgens on behavioral, autonomic, and/or neuroendocrine assessment that may underlie their controversial performance enhancing effects.

Androgen receptor coregulators: recruitment via the coactivator binding groove

Androgens are key regulators of male sexual differentiation and essential for development and maintenance of male reproductive tissues. The androgens testosterone and dihydrotestosterone mediate their effect by binding to, and activation of the androgen receptor (AR). Upon activation, the AR is able to recognize specific DNA sequences in gene promoters and enhancers from where it recruits coregulators to orchestrate chromatin remodeling and transcription regulation. The number of proteins that bind to the AR has surpassed 200 and many of them enhance (coactivator) or repress (corepressor) its transactivating capacity. For most of these coregulators, their AR binding interface and their exact mode of action still needs to be elucidated, but for some of the more classical coactivators and corepressors, we gained insight in their working mechanisms. Of particular interest are specific sequences (LxxLL and FxxLF-like motifs) in a subset of coactivators that interact with the AR via a coactivator binding groove in the ligand-binding domain. As compared to other steroid receptors, the conformation of the AR coactivator binding pocket is unique and preferentially binds FxxLF-like motifs. This predisposition is expected to contribute to the regulation of specific sets of target genes via recruitment of selected coregulators. This review provides an overview of these (inter)actions with a focus on the unique characteristics of the AR coactivator binding groove.

Class IIa HDACs: from important roles in differentiation to possible implications in tumourigenesis

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are important regulators of gene expression. Specific structural features and distinct regulative mechanisms rationalize the separation of the 18 different human HDACs into four classes. The class II comprises a heterogeneous group of nuclear and cytosolic HDACs involved in the regulation of several cellular functions, not just limited to transcriptional repression. In particular, HDAC4, 5, 7 and 9 belong to the subclass IIa and share many transcriptional partners, including members of the MEF2 family. Genetic studies in mice have disclosed the fundamental contribution of class IIa HDACs to specific developmental/differentiation pathways. In this review, we discuss about the recent literature, which hints a role of class IIa HDACs in the development, growth and aggressiveness of cancer cells.

Inhibition of androgen receptor activity by histone deacetylase 4 through receptor SUMOylation

The transcriptional activity of the androgen receptor is regulated by both ligand binding and posttranslational modifications including acetylation and SUMOylation. Histone deacetylases are known to catalyze the removal of acetyl groups from both histones and non-histone proteins. In the present study, we report that histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC4) binds to and inhibits the activity of the androgen receptor (AR). This inhibition was found to depend on the SUMOylation, instead of deacetylation, of the AR. Consistently, HDAC4 increases the level of AR SUMOylation in both whole cell and cell-free assay systems, raising the possibility that the deacetylase may act as an E3 ligase for AR SUMOylation. Knock down of HDAC4 increases the activity of endogenous AR and androgen induction of prostate specific antigen expression and prostate cancer cell growth, which is associated with decreased SUMOylation of the receptor. Overall, the studies identify HDAC4 as a positive regulator for AR SUMOylation, revealing a deacetylase-independent mechanism of histone deacetylase action in prostate cancer cells.

Beyond histone and deacetylase: an overview of cytoplasmic histone deacetylases and their nonhistone substrates

Acetylation of lysines is a prominent form of modification in mammalian proteins. Deacetylation of proteins is catalyzed by histone deacetylases, traditionally named after their role in histone deacetylation, transcriptional modulation, and epigenetic regulation. Despite the link between histone deacetylases and chromatin structure, some of the histone deacetylases reside in various compartments in the cytoplasm. Here, we review how these cytoplasmic histone deacetylases are regulated, the identification of nonhistone substrates, and the functional implications of their nondeacetylase enzymatic activities.

Clostridium difficile toxin A decreases acetylation of tubulin, leading to microtubule depolymerization through activation of histone deacetylase 6, and this mediates acute inflammation

Clostridium difficile toxin A is known to cause actin disaggregation through the enzymatic inactivation of intracellular Rho proteins. Based on the rapid and severe cell rounding of toxin A-exposed cells, we speculated that toxin A may be involved in post-translational modification of tubulin, leading to microtubule instability. In the current study, we observed that toxin A strongly reduced α-tubulin acetylation in human colonocytes and mouse intestine. Fractionation analysis demonstrated that toxin A-induced α-tubulin deacetylation yielded monomeric tubulin, indicating the presence of microtubule depolymerization. Inhibition of the glucosyltransferase activity against Rho proteins of toxin A by UDP-2',3'-dialdehyde significantly abrogated toxin A-induced α-tubulin deacetylation. In colonocytes treated with trichostatin A (TSA), an inhibitor of the HDAC6 tubulin deacetylase, toxin A-induced α-tubulin deacetylation and loss of tight junction were completely blocked. Administration of TSA also attenuated proinflammatory cytokine production, mucosal damage, and epithelial cell apoptosis in mouse intestine exposed to toxin A. These results suggest that toxin A causes microtubule depolymerization by activation of HDAC6-mediated tubulin deacetylation. Indeed, blockage of HDAC6 by TSA markedly attenuates α-tubulin deacetylation, proinflammatory cytokine production, and mucosal damage in a toxin A-induced mouse enteritis model. Tubulin deacetylation is an important component of the intestinal inflammatory cascade following toxin A-mediated Rho inactivation in vitro and in vivo.

Histone deacetylase 7 and FoxA1 in estrogen-mediated repression of RPRM

Activation of estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) results in both induction and repression of gene transcription; while mechanistic details of estrogen induction are well described, details of repression remain largely unknown. We characterized several ERalpha-repressed targets and examined in detail the mechanism for estrogen repression of Reprimo (RPRM), a cell cycle inhibitor. Estrogen repression of RPRM is rapid and robust and requires a tripartite interaction between ERalpha, histone deacetylase 7 (HDAC7), and FoxA1. HDAC7 is the critical HDAC needed for repression of RPRM; it can bind to ERalpha and represses ERalpha's transcriptional activity--this repression does not require HDAC7's deacetylase activity. We further show that the chromatin pioneer factor FoxA1, well known for its role in estrogen induction of genes, is recruited to the RPRM promoter, is necessary for repression of RPRM, and interacts with HDAC7. Like other FoxA1 recruitment sites, the RPRM promoter is characterized by H3K4me1/me2. Estrogen treatment causes decreases in H3K4me1/me2 and release of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) from the RPRM proximal promoter. Overall, these data implicate a novel role for HDAC7 and FoxA1 in estrogen repression of RPRM, a mechanism which could potentially be generalized to many more estrogen-repressed genes and hence be important in both normal physiology and pathological processes.

Splicing of HDAC7 modulates the SRF-myocardin complex during stem-cell differentiation towards smooth muscle cells

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) have a central role in the regulation of gene expression. Here we investigated whether HDAC7 has an impact on embryonic stem (ES) cell differentiation into smooth muscle cells (SMCs). ES cells were seeded on collagen-IV-coated flasks and cultured in the absence of leukemia inhibitory factor in differentiation medium to induce SMC differentiation. Western blots and double-immunofluorescence staining demonstrated that HDAC7 has a parallel expression pattern with SMC marker genes. In ex vivo culture of embryonic cells from SM22-LacZ transgenic mice, overexpression of HDAC7 significantly increased beta-galactosidase-positive cell numbers and enzyme activity, indicating its crucial role in SMC differentiation during embryonic development. We found that HDAC7 undergoes alternative splicing during ES cell differentiation. Platelet-derived growth factor enhanced ES cell differentiation into SMCs through upregulation of HDAC7 splicing. Further experiments revealed that HDAC7 splicing induced SMC differentiation through modulation of the SRF-myocardin complex. These findings suggest that HDAC7 splicing is important for SMC differentiation and vessel formation in embryonic development.

Decreased recognition of SUMO-sensitive target genes following modification of SF-1 (NR5A1)

SUMO modification of nuclear receptors, including the constitutively active receptor steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1; NR5A1), is proposed to repress their transcriptional activity. We examined the functional and structural consequences of SF-1 sumoylation at two conserved lysines (Lys119 and Lys194) that reside adjacent to the DNA-binding domain (DBD) and ligand-binding domain (LBD), respectively. Surprisingly, while previous loss-of-function studies predicted that sumoylation at Lys194 would greatly impact SF-1 function, the conformation and coregulator recruitment of fully sumoylated SF-1 LBD protein was either unchanged or modestly impaired. Sumoylation at Lys194 also modestly reduced Ser203 phosphorylation. In contrast to these findings, sumoylation of the DBD at Lys119 resulted in a marked and selective loss of DNA binding to noncanonical SF-1 targets, such as inhibinalpha; this binding deficit was extended to all sites when the sumoylated human mutant (R92Q) protein, which exhibits lower activity, was used. Consistent with this result, the K119R mutant, compared to wild-type SF-1, was selectively recruited to a "SUMO-sensitive" site in the endogenous inhibinalpha promoter, leading to increased transcription. DNA binding and sumoylation of Lys119 appeared to be mutually exclusive, suggesting that once SF-1 is bound to DNA, sumoylation may be less important in regulating SF-1 activity. We propose that sumoylation of nuclear receptors imposes an active posttranslational mark that dampens recognition of SUMO-sensitive target genes to restrain their expression.

ZNF451 is a novel PML body- and SUMO-associated transcriptional coregulator

Covalent modification by small ubiquitin-related modifiers (SUMOs) is an important means to regulate dynamic residency of transcription factors within nuclear compartments. Here, we identify a multi-C(2)H(2)-type zinc finger protein (ZNF), ZNF451, as a novel nuclear protein that can be associated with promyelocytic leukemia bodies. In keeping with its interaction with SUMO E2 conjugase Ubc9 and SUMOs, ZNF451 is covalently modified by SUMOs (sumoylated) at several, albeit nonconsensus, sites. Interestingly, noncovalent SUMO-binding activity of ZNF451 (SUMO-interacting motif) is also important for its sumoylation. SUMO modifications regulate the nuclear compartmentalization of ZNF451, since coexpression of ZNF451 with SUMO-specific proteases SENP1 or SENP2, both capable of desumoylating the protein, redistributes ZNF451 from nuclear domains to speckles and nucleoplasm. Interaction of ZNF451 with PIAS1 (protein inhibitor of activated STAT 1) is not manifested as PIAS1's E3 SUMO ligase activity towards ZNF451 but results in disintegration of ZNF451 nuclear domains and recruitment of ZNF451 to androgen receptor (AR) speckles. ZNF451 interacts weakly, but in a SUMO-1-enhanced fashion, with AR. ZNF451 does not harbor an intrinsic transcription activation function, but interestingly, ablation of endogenous ZNF451 in prostate cancer cells significantly decreases expression of several AR target genes. Thus, we suggest that ZNF451 exerts its effects via SUMO modification machinery and trafficking of transcription regulators between promyelocytic leukemia bodies and nucleoplasm.

Identification of ETS-like transcription factor 4 as a novel androgen receptor target in prostate cancer cells

Transcriptional control by androgens via androgen receptor (AR) is strongly involved in prostate cancer development, but the critical target genes have remained elusive. We have characterized E twenty-six-like transcription factor 4 (ELK4) (also known as serum response factor accessory protein 1) as a novel AR target in human prostate cancer cells. In-silico screening identified three putative AR response elements (AREs) within -10 kb from the transcription start site of ELK4. Both ARE1 at -167/-153 and ARE2 at -481/-467 bound AR in vitro and mediated androgen induction as isolated elements in transcription assays in non-prostate cells. However, merely the ARE2 that cooperates with a proximal forkhead box A1-binding site was critical for the AR-dependent activation of ELK4 promoter in prostate cancer cells. Preferential loading of holo-AR onto the ARE2 and concomitant recruitment of RNA polymerase II onto the ELK4 promoter was confirmed in prostate cancer cells by chromatin immunoprecipitation. Database searches indicated that the expression of ELK4 is markedly increased in prostate cancers relative to normal prostates. Moreover, prostate cancer tissue immunostainings showed that nuclear ELK4 levels are significantly increased in androgen-refractory prostate cancers compared to untreated tumours. Reduction of the amount of ELK4 in LNCaP cells by RNAi retarded cell growth. In conclusion, ELK4 is a direct AR target in prostate cancer cells. Androgens may thus contribute to the growth of prostate cancer via influencing ELK4 levels.

Androgen receptor (AR) coregulators: a diversity of functions converging on and regulating the AR transcriptional complex

Androgens, acting through the androgen receptor (AR), are responsible for the development of the male phenotype during embryogenesis, the achievement of sexual maturation at puberty, and the maintenance of male reproductive function and behavior in adulthood. In addition, androgens affect a wide variety of nonreproductive tissues. Moreover, aberrant androgen action plays a critical role in multiple pathologies, including prostate cancer and androgen insensitivity syndromes. The formation of a productive AR transcriptional complex requires the functional and structural interaction of the AR with its coregulators. In the last decade, an overwhelming and ever increasing number of proteins have been proposed to possess AR coactivating or corepressing characteristics. Intriguingly, a vast diversity of functions has been ascribed to these proteins, indicating that a multitude of cellular functions and signals converge on the AR to regulate its function. The current review aims to provide an overview of the AR coregulator proteins identified to date and to propose a classification of these AR coregulator proteins according to the function(s) ascribed to them. Taken together, this approach will increase our understanding of the cellular pathways that converge on the AR to ensure an appropriate transcriptional response to androgens.

Class IIa histone deacetylases: regulating the regulators

In the last decade, the identification of enzymes that regulate acetylation of histones and nonhistone proteins has revealed the key role of dynamic acetylation and deacetylation in various cellular processes. Mammalian histone deacetylases (HDACs), which catalyse the removal of acetyl groups from lysine residues, are grouped into three classes, on the basis of similarity to yeast counterparts. An abundance of experimental evidence has established class IIa HDACs as crucial transcriptional regulators of various developmental and differentiation processes. In the past 5 years, a tremendous effort has been dedicated to characterizing the regulation of these enzymes. In this review, we summarize the latest discoveries in the field and discuss the molecular and structural determinants of class IIa HDACs regulation. Finally, we emphasize that comprehension of the mechanisms underlying class IIa HDAC functions is essential for potential therapeutic applications.

The hinge region regulates DNA binding, nuclear translocation, and transactivation of the androgen receptor

The androgen receptor (AR) encoding gene can undergo mutations during the development and treatment of prostate cancer. Even in hormone-independent stages, mutations in the receptor paradoxically seem to result in an increased AR function. Two such point mutations have been described in the part of the AR involved in DNA binding and nuclear translocation, namely the hinge region. Despite a decreased nuclear translocation, these mutant ARs display increased transactivating potencies. Through detailed analysis of the hinge region, we found that deletion of residues 629 to 636 resulted in a stronger androgen response on different reporters, although this mutant displays an extremely low in vitro affinity for androgen response elements. This superactivity is independent of nuclear localization and can be inhibited by antiandrogens. Surprisingly, the AR activation functions, AF1 and AF2, are not dramatically affected when the inhibitory region (629-RKLKKLGN-636) is deleted, although cotransfected p160 coactivator TIF2 had a stronger potentiating effect in the absence of this motif. The ligand-dependent interaction between the amino-terminal domain and the ligand-binding domain (N/C interaction) plays an important role in transactivation by the AR. We found that this interaction is strongly enhanced by deletion of the inhibitory region. In conclusion, the description of prostate cancer mutations has led to the discovery of a complex role of the hinge region in nuclear localization, DNA binding, coactivator recruitment, and N/C interaction of the AR.

Pathogenesis of prostate cancer and hormone refractory prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is the second most common malignancy in males and the leading cause of cancer death. Prostate cancer is initially androgen dependent and relies upon the androgen receptor (AR) to mediate the effects of androgens. The AR is also the target for therapy using antiandrogens and LHRH analogues. However, all cancers eventually become androgen independent, often referred to as hormone refractory prostate cancer. The processes involved in this transformation are yet to be fully understood but research in this area has discovered numerous potential mechanisms including AR amplification, over-expression or mutation and alterations in the AR signaling pathway. This review of the recent literature examines the current knowledge and developments in the understanding of the molecular biology of prostate cancer and hormone refractory prostate cancer, summarizing the well characterized pathways involved as well as introducing new concepts that may offer future solutions to this difficult problem.