Interaction of rat prostate androgen receptors with polynucleotides, RNA, DNA and cloned DNA fragments.

Androgen receptors were partially purified from prostates of mature (non-castrated) rats by chromatography on 2',5'-ADP-Sepharose and labelled by exchange with 5 alpha-[3H]dihydrotestosterone. The partially purified receptor preparation was free of DNAase activity and sedimented at approx. 3 S. The specificity of the interaction of this androgen receptor with nucleotides was investigated in a competitive binding assay using inhibition of binding of the steroid receptor complex to ADP-Sepharose. Certain polyribonucleotides were strongly bound (e.g., poly(UG), poly(AU), poly(G) and poly(U] and competed more effectively for the receptor binding sites than prostate RNA. Restriction fragments of genomic clones from the genes which code for prostatic binding protein showed only moderate affinity for the 3 S receptor form. These data suggest that the 3 S form of the androgen receptor lacks the specific domain or conformation necessary for specific interaction with DNA, but retains a high affinity for certain forms of RNA. Some potent inhibitors of proteolysis (diisopropylfluorophosphate, leupeptin) did not have any effect on the form of the receptor isolated from mature intact animals. A possible function of the 3 S form in post-transcriptional processing is discussed.