Androgen receptor

The majority of physiological actions of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone are mediated by the androgen receptor, a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily, encoded as a single gene on the X-chromosome. Androgen receptor has four functional domains, N-terminal, DNA binding, hinge and ligand binding. In response to hormone binding the androgen receptor protein positively or negatively regulates gene expression (classical pathway) or signaling cascade activity (nonclassical pathway) in target tissues. Androgen receptor is long known to be essential for correct masculinization, and male fertility, however recent studies have identified novel influences androgen receptor plays in both lifelong health, and disease.