Request for Funding

Medical Student Research Fellowship for Summer 2004

Mentor: Michael McPhaul, MD
Department: Internal Medicine, Endocrinology
Room number: J6.110
Mail Code: 8857
Phone number: 214 648 3685
E-mail: michael.mcphaul@utsouthwestern.edu
Project title: Regulation of target genes by the androgen receptor

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

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

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 Research

Brief Description of Project:

The androgen receptor is a ligand-activated transcription factor that acts to regulate the activity of target genes. Although defects have been described in the androgen receptor that contribute to the pathogenesis of abnormalities of sexual development, the progression of prostate cancer, and spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy, abundant evidence suggests that additional factors modulate androgen receptor function under normal conditions and in pathological conditions.

We are engaged in number of studies to identify factors that modulate AR function and to demonstrate the involvement of these factors in normal (and abnormal) androgen receptor function. Interested students could work in on (or both) of two general areas: to characterize patterns and magnitude of androgen regulation of target genes in model cell lines using quantitative real-time RT-PCR, and 2) modulate the levels of specific factors using siRNA and transfection assays to determine the effect that such changes (decreases or increases, respectively) have on the regulation of target genes.

Previous Research Activities or Publications with Medical Students: Numerous

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