Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 10, 2026

Prostaglandin Extraction and Analysis in Caenorhabditis elegans
08:50

Prostaglandin Extraction and Analysis in Caenorhabditis elegans

Published on: June 25, 2013

Androgen regulation of prostasin gene expression is mediated by sterol-regulatory element-binding proteins and SLUG

Mengqian Chen1, Li-Mei Chen, Karl X Chai

  • 1Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida 32816-2364, USA.

The Prostate
|March 17, 2006
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) regulates prostasin expression in prostate cancer cells by stimulating SREBP transcription factors and repressing SLUG. SLUG, upregulated by DHT and EGF, silences epithelial genes during cancer progression.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular biology
  • Cancer research
  • Prostate cancer epigenetics

Background:

  • Prostasin is downregulated in hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC).
  • Mechanisms of androgen regulation of prostasin expression are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of androgens, specifically dihydrotestosterone (DHT), in regulating prostasin expression.
  • To elucidate the involvement of transcription factors SREBP, SNAIL, and SLUG in prostasin gene regulation.

Main Methods:

  • LNCaP and DU-145 cells were treated with DHT or EGF.
  • mRNA expression of prostasin and related transcription factors was analyzed using real-time PCR.
  • Prostasin promoter activity was assessed in HEK-293 cells co-transfected with transcription factor cDNAs.

Main Results:

  • DHT upregulated SLUG mRNA expression in LNCaP cells and marginally increased SREBP-1c, SREBP-2, and SNAIL.
  • SREBP-1c and SREBP-2 significantly stimulated prostasin promoter activity, while SNAIL and SLUG repressed it.
  • SLUG counteracted SREBP-2-mediated prostasin promoter activation; EGF upregulated SNAIL and SLUG in DU-145 cells.

Conclusions:

  • DHT regulates prostasin expression through SREBP stimulation and SLUG repression.
  • SLUG acts as a key mediator, upregulated by DHT and EGF, contributing to gene silencing in prostate cancer progression.

More Related Videos

Murine Prostate Micro-dissection and Surgical Castration08:49

Murine Prostate Micro-dissection and Surgical Castration

Published on: May 11, 2016

An Orthotopic Murine Model of Human Prostate Cancer Metastasis06:48

An Orthotopic Murine Model of Human Prostate Cancer Metastasis

Published on: September 18, 2013

Related Concept Videos

Regulation of Nuclear Protein Sorting01:45

Regulation of Nuclear Protein Sorting

Nuclear protein sorting regulates nucleus composition and gene expression, crucial for determining the fate of a eukaryotic cell. Hence, the entry and exit of molecules across the nuclear envelope is a tightly controlled process. Nuclear protein sorting can be inhibited by one of the following ways: 1) masking cargo signal sequences, 2) modifying the nuclear receptor's affinity for cargo, 3) controlling the nuclear pore size, 4) retaining the cargo during its transit to the cytosol or the...
Regulation of Expression at Multiple Steps01:23

Regulation of Expression at Multiple Steps

The gene expression in cells is regulated at different stages: (i) transcription, (ii) RNA processing, (iii) RNA localization, and (iv) translation. Transcriptional regulation is mediated by regulatory proteins such as transcription factors, activators, or repressors—these control gene expression by initiating or inhibiting the transcription of genes. Once a precursor or pre-mRNA is produced, it undergoes post-transcriptional modification, including 5' capping, splicing, and the addition of a...
What is Gene Expression?01:36

What is Gene Expression?

A gene is a stretch of DNA that serves as the blueprint for functional RNAs and proteins. Since DNA is comprised  of nucleotides and proteins are comprised of amino acids, a mediator is required to convert the information encoded in DNA into proteins. This mediator is the messenger RNA (mRNA). mRNA copies the blueprint from DNA by a process called transcription. In eukaryotes, transcription occurs in the nucleus by complementary base-pairing with the DNA template. The mRNA is then processed and...
What is Gene Expression?01:42

What is Gene Expression?

Overview
Gene expression is the process in which DNA directs the synthesis of functional products, that is, proteins. Cells can regulate gene expression at various stages. It allows organisms to generate different cell types and enables cells to adapt to internal and external factors.
Genetic Information Flows from DNA to RNA to Protein
A gene is a stretch of DNA that serves as the blueprint for functional RNAs and proteins. Since DNA is made up of nucleotides and proteins consist of amino...
TGF - β Signaling Pathway01:16

TGF - β Signaling Pathway

The TGF-β signaling pathway regulates cell growth, differentiation, adhesion, motility, and development. TGF-β ligands that induce TGF-β signaling are synthesized in their latent form. Several proteases or cell surface receptors such as integrins act upon the latent form, releasing the active ligand. There are three types of mammalian TGF-βs: (TGF-β1, TGF-β2, and TGF-β3) that bind as homodimers or heterodimers to TGF-β receptors. The TGF-β receptors are of three kinds RI, RII, and RIII. The RI...
Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply01:24

Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply

Rapidly dividing tumors, embryos, and wounded tissues require more oxygen than usual, lowering the oxygen concentration in the blood. At low oxygen or hypoxic conditions, an oxygen-sensitive transcription factor called the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 or HIF1 is activated. HIF1 is a dimeric protein of alpha (ɑ) and beta (β) subunits.  Under optimal oxygen conditions, HIF1β is present in the nucleus while HIF1ɑ remains in the cytosol. HIF1ɑ is hydroxylated by prolyl hydroxylase and factor...