Androgen Receptors in the Nonhistone Protein Fractions of Prostatic Chromatin

Abstract

This chapter discusses the nonhistone proteins of prostate gland as nuclear androgen receptors or acceptors. Nonhistone proteins are involved in specific gene expression and activation. The chapter shows that prostate nonhistone proteins are the chromatin molecules with which the androgen-cytosol receptor complex interacts. Finally, such interaction is considered in view of androgen-induced alteration of gene activity. The Role of nonhistone chromosomal proteins in the control of gene activity is discussed. If nonhistone proteins contain regulatory molecules in control of gene expression, they should interact specifically with DNA. Since many proteins, for example, DNA polymerases and RNA polymerases, bind to DNA, the ability to bind DNA does not necessarily indicate a gene regulatory function. Further, in eukaryotes, gene activity is expressed by chromatin as a result of specific association of DNA with chromosomal proteins. Hence control of gene activity is also operative on the protein–protein interaction level. A comparison of the experimentally observed mechanisms of action of some steroid hormones within their receptor cell may help to elucidate the role that the nonhistone proteins of chromatin play in hormone activation of the genome. The mechanism of action of a steroid hormone within target tissue cells is studied with the help of experiments.