Essential role for Co-chaperone Fkbp52 but not Fkbp51 in androgen receptor-mediated signaling and physiology.

Abstract

Fkbp52 and Fkbp51 are tetratricopeptide repeat proteins found in steroid receptor complexes, and Fkbp51 is an androgen receptor (AR) target gene. Although in vitro studies suggest that Fkbp52 and Fkbp51 regulate hormone binding and/or subcellular trafficking of receptors, the roles of Fkbp52 and Fkbp51 in vivo have not been extensively investigated. Here, we evaluate their physiological roles in Fkbp52-deficient and Fkbp51-deficient mice. Fkbp52-deficient males developed defects in select reproductive organs (e.g. penile hypospadias and prostate dysgenesis but normal testis), pointing to a role for Fkbp52 in AR-mediated signaling and function. Surprisingly, ablation of Fkbp52 did not affect AR hormone binding or nuclear translocation in vivo and in vitro. Molecular studies in mouse embryonic fibroblast cells uncovered that Fkbp52 is critical to AR transcriptional activity. Interestingly, Fkbp51 expression was down-regulated in Fkbp52-deficient males but only in affected tissues, providing further evidence of tissue-specific loss of AR activity and suggesting that Fkbp51 is an AR target gene essential to penile and prostate development. However, Fkbp51-deficient mice were normal, showing no defects in AR-mediated reproductive function. Our work demonstrates that Fkbp52 but not Fkbp51 is essential to AR-mediated signaling and provides evidence for an unprecedented Fkbp52 function, direct control of steroid receptor transcriptional activity.

• Authors: Weidong Yong, Zuocheng Yang, Sumudra Periyasamy, Hanying Chen, Selcul Yucel, Wei Li, Leanne Y Lin, Irene M Wolf, Martin J Cohn, Laurence S Baskin, Edwin R Sa Nchez, Weinian Shou
• Journal: The Journal of biological chemistry (J Biol Chem) Vol. 282 Issue 7 Pg. 5026-5036 (Feb 16 2007) ISSN: 0021-9258 [Print] United States
• PMID: 17142810 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Androgens
• Molecular Chaperones
• Receptors, Androgen
• Tacrolimus Binding Proteins
• tacrolimus binding protein 4
• tacrolimus binding protein 5

Topics

• Active Transport, Cell Nucleus (genetics)
• Androgens (metabolism)
• Animals
• Cell Nucleus (genetics, metabolism)
• Genital Diseases, Male (genetics, metabolism, pathology)
• Male
• Mice
• Mice, Knockout
• Molecular Chaperones (genetics, metabolism)
• Penis (embryology)
• Prostate (embryology)
• Receptors, Androgen (genetics, metabolism)
• Signal Transduction (physiology)
• Tacrolimus Binding Proteins (deficiency, metabolism)
• Transcription, Genetic