Skip to main content

Methods to Study Dynamic Interaction of Androgen Receptor with Chromatin in Living Cells

  • Protocol
  • First Online:

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 776))

Abstract

Androgen receptor (AR) is a ligand-dependent transcription factor that belongs to the nuclear receptor superfamily. In the presence of its specific ligands, AR translocates into the nucleus, interacts with chromatin at hormone response elements (HREs) and recruits a variety of coregulators and basal transcription factors to regulate transcription. Using green fluorescent protein (GFP) labelling and the tandem gene array system of mouse mammary tumour virus (MMTV), the interaction of AR with HREs can be visualized and studied in live cells. The MMTV array in nuclei can be specifically detected by DNA fluorescence in situ hybridization (DNA FISH) and thereby specific binding of GFP-AR to the array can be confirmed in the presence of specific ligands. The transcriptional activity of GFP-AR at the MMTV array can be visualized by RNA FISH in combination with interactions of GFP-AR or its cofactors, or different components of the transcriptional initiation complex, by indirect immunofluorescence (IF). Finally, using fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP), dynamic interactions of GFP-AR with the chromatin template can be studied. Methods to carry out these experiments are described herein.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Protocol
USD   49.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   159.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Springer Nature is developing a new tool to find and evaluate Protocols. Learn more

References

  1. Dilworth, F. J., and Chambon, P. (2001) Nuclear receptors coordinate the activities of chromatin remodeling complexes and coactivators to facilitate initiation of transcription, Oncogene 20, 3047–3054.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Hager, G. L. (2001) Understanding nuclear receptor function: from DNA to chromatin to the interphase nucleus, Prog Nucleic Acid Res Mol Biol 66, 279–305.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. McKenna, N. J., and O’Malley, B. W. (2002) Combinatorial control of gene expression by nuclear receptors and coregulators, Cell 108, 465–474.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Shang, Y., Myers, M., and Brown, M. (2002) Formation of the androgen receptor transcription complex, Mol Cell 9, 601–610.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Hager, G. L., Elbi, C., Johnson, T. A., Voss, T., Nagaich, A. K., Schiltz, R. L., Qiu, Y., and John, S. (2006) Chromatin dynamics and the evolution of alternate promoter states, Chromosome Res 14, 107–116.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. McNally, J. G., Muller, W. G., Walker, D., Wolford, R., and Hager, G. L. (2000) The glucocorticoid receptor: rapid exchange with regulatory sites in living cells, Science 287, 1262–1265.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Hager, G. L., McNally, J. G., and Misteli, T. (2009) Transcription dynamics, Mol Cell 35, 741–753.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Klokk, T. I., Kurys, P., Elbi, C., Nagaich, A. K., Hendarwanto, A., Slagsvold, T., Chang, C. Y., Hager, G. L., and Saatcioglu, F. (2007) Ligand-specific dynamics of the androgen receptor at its response element in living cells, Mol Cell Biol 27, 1823–1843.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Johnson, T. A., Elbi, C., Parekh, B. S., Hager, G. L., and John, S. (2008) Chromatin remodeling complexes interact dynamically with a glucocorticoid receptor-regulated promoter, Mol Biol Cell 19, 3308–3322.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Muller, W. G., Walker, D., Hager, G. L., and McNally, J. G. (2001) Large-scale chromatin decondensation and recondensation regulated by transcription from a natural promoter, J Cell Biol 154, 33–48.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Farla, P., Hersmus, R., Trapman, J., and Houtsmuller, A. B. (2005) Antiandrogens prevent stable DNA-binding of the androgen receptor, J Cell Sci 118, 4187–4198.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Robinett, C. C., Straight, A., Li, G., Willhelm, C., Sudlow, G., Murray, A., and Belmont, A. S. (1996) In vivo localization of DNA sequences and visualization of large-scale chromatin organization using lac operator/repressor recognition, J Cell Biol 135, 1685–1700.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Shimizu, N., Miura, Y., Sakamoto, Y., and Tsutsui, K. (2001) Plasmids with a mammalian replication origin and a matrix attachment region initiate the event similar to gene amplification, Cancer Res 61, 6987–6990.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by grants from the Norwegian Cancer Society and the Norwegian Research Council.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fahri Saatcioglu .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

About this protocol

Cite this protocol

Kirli, H.Z., Saatcioglu, F. (2011). Methods to Study Dynamic Interaction of Androgen Receptor with Chromatin in Living Cells. In: Saatcioglu, F. (eds) Androgen Action. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 776. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-243-4_9

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-243-4_9

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-61779-242-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-61779-243-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

Publish with us

Policies and ethics