Activation of the DNA-dependent protein kinase stimulates nuclear export of the androgen receptor in vitro.

The androgen receptor undergoes nuclear import in response to ligand, but the mechanism by which it undergoes nuclear export is poorly understood. We developed a permeabilized cell assay to characterize nuclear export of the androgen receptor in LNCaP prostate cancer cells. We found that nuclear export of endogenous androgen receptor can be stimulated by short double-stranded DNA oligonucleotides.

Nuclear transport of steroid hormone receptors.

Nuclear receptors (NRs) comprise a superfamily of ligand-regulated transcription factors implicated in a host of physiological processes, including development, differentiation, and proliferation. Translated in the cytoplasm, NRs must undergo import into the nucleus in order to modulate transcription of target genes in response to cognate hormones. NRs also undergo export from the nucleus, and there is emerging evidence that NR nucleocytoplasmic shuttling contributes to their regulation.