Request for Funding

Medical Student Research Fellowship for Summer 2003

Mentor: Michael McPhaul
Department: Internal Medicine; Endocrinology and Metabolism
Room number: J6.110
Mail Code: 8857
Phone number: 8-3685
E-mail: michael.mcphaul@utsouthwestern.edu
Project title:

Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): N/A
N/A
Animal subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable):

Project Type (patient-based research, animal-based research, or basic research; this characterization is only to permit a general classification for grouping similar types of projects) Basic

Brief Description of Project:

The androgen receptor (AR) is a ligand-regulated transcription factor that modulates a wide range of processes during development and in the adult in response to androgens (in vertebrates, testosterone and 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone). We are studying the mechanisms by which the androgen receptor regulates gene activity in response to these hormones in a number of model systems.

1. Coactivators and corepressors are intermediary proteins that modulate the activity of nuclear receptors. We have identified a number of proteins that interact with the AR in yeast two-hybrid screens and in biochemical isolation assays. We are exploring the importance of these proteins in modulating AR function in cell-based and in vitro assays.

2. We are examining the capacity of different natural and artificial androgens to regulate genes differentially in different tissues. These experiments are being performed in mice and the effects of these hormones on gene regulation measured using cDNA microarrays to analyze global changes in the patterns of mRNA expression.

Previous Research Activities or Publications with Medical Students:

Many

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