PUBLICATION

Zebrafish Androgen Receptor: Isolation, Molecular, and Biochemical Characterization

Authors
Hossain, M.S., Larsson, A., Scherbak, N., Olsson, P.E., and Orban, L.
ID
ZDB-PUB-071023-10
Date
2008
Source
Biology of reproduction   78(2): 361-369 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Orban, Laszlo
Keywords
Testis, Androgen receptor, Steroid hormones, 11-ketotestosterone, gonad differentiation
MeSH Terms
  • Androgens/metabolism*
  • Androgens/pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Chromosome Mapping
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Computer Simulation
  • DNA, Complementary/genetics
  • Female
  • Gene Expression*
  • Gonads/growth & development
  • Male
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Phylogeny
  • RNA, Messenger/metabolism
  • Receptors, Androgen/classification*
  • Receptors, Androgen/genetics*
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Testosterone/analogs & derivatives
  • Testosterone/pharmacology
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Transfection
  • Zebrafish/genetics
  • Zebrafish/growth & development*
  • Zebrafish Proteins/genetics*
PubMed
17942797 Full text @ Biol. Reprod.
Abstract
Androgens play an important role in male sexual differentiation and development. They exert their function by binding to and activating the androgen receptor (Ar), a member of the steroid hormone receptor super family. Here, we report the isolation and characterization of zebrafish Ar. The complete transcript of zebrafish ar is 5.3 kb long encoding a putative polypeptide of 868 amino acids. Our experimental and bioinformatic analysis has found a single ar locus in zebrafish. Phylogenetic analysis using the ligand binding domain showed that the zebrafish Ar clustered with its cyprinid orthologs to form a separate group, which was closer to the beta clade than to the alpha clade. Tissue specific expression analysis revealed that the ar mRNA was expressed ubiquitously in all adult tissues tested, with sexually dimorphic expression in the gonad and muscle. While the ar transcript was maternally deposited into the embryo, signs of zygotic expression could be detected as early as 24 hours post fertilization and the expression level increased substantially afterwards. When analyzed during gonad development the expression level of ar mRNA at 4 weeks post fertilization was similar in both developing gonads but later became higher in the transforming testis, suggesting a potential role during male gonad differentiation. We also combined theoretical modelling with in vitro experiments to show that the zebrafish Ar is preferentially activated by 11-ketotestosterone.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Show all Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping