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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2018 Aug 1.
Published in final edited form as: Endocr Relat Cancer. 2017 May 31;24(8):R275–R295. doi: 10.1530/ERC-17-0121

Figure 1. Basic mechanism of AR-mediated transcription.

Figure 1

The hypothalamus produces LHRH which induces the production of LH and ACTH by the anterior pituitary. LH and ACTH stimulated secretion of testosterone and DHEA by the testes and adrenal glands, respectively. Testosterone and DHEA are converted into the bioactive androgen DHT in target cells. DHT binds to inactive AR in the cytoplasm, triggering a conformational change and nuclear translocation of AR. Inside the nucleus, DHT-bound AR homodimerizes and binds to AREs to drive the expression of AR target genes. Abbreviations: LHRH, luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone; LH, luteinizing hormone; ACTH, adrenocorticotropic hormone; DHEA, dehydroepiandrosterone; DHT, dihydrotestosterone; AR, androgen receptor; NTD, N-terminal domain; LBD, ligand-binding domain; DBD, DNA binding domain; ARE, androgen response element. Red lines mark current therapeutic targets to inhibit AR signaling.