Novel molecular defects in the androgen receptor gene of Mexican patients with androgen insensitivity

The androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS) is an X-linked form of male pseudohermaphroditism caused by mutations in the androgen receptor (AR) gene. In the present study, we analyzed the AR gene in 8 patients, 4 sporadic and 2 familial cases with the syndrome, using exon-specific polymerase chain reaction, single-stranded conformational polymorphism and sequencing analysis and identified six new single base mutations, including one nonsense mutation at the hinge region of the receptor. These molecular lesions occurred in the steroid-binding domain (SBD) and all but one affected the first nucleotide of their respective codons. A nonsense mutation in exon 4, which converts a glutamine into a premature termination signal (Q657stop), a missense mutation changing arginine instead of glycine (G743R) and a conservative substitution of leucine with valine at amino acid 830 (L830V) were detected in patients with CAIS. Three other missense mutations located in exons 4 (L701I), 5 (A765S), and 6 (Q802R) were present in individuals bearing a partial form of AIS. These data allow us to reaffirm the view that nonsense mutations in the AR results almost invariably in a CAIS phenotype and underly the importance of the SBD for the AR functional activity.     

雄激素受体基因新突变引起的完全型雄激素不敏感综合征

目的 对1例完全型雄激素不敏感综合征(complete androgen insensitivity syndrom,CAIS)的雄激素受体(androgen receptor,AR)基因进行分析,寻找致病突变.方法 提取外周血全基因组DNA,扩增位于X染色体上的AR基因所有8个外显子及邻近外显子与内含子之间的剪切位点DNA序列,对扩增片段直接进行DNA序列测定,与基因库中的序列进行比对.结果 该病例AR基因第1外显子的441位密码子发生无义突变(GAA→TAA),由编码谷氨酸(Glu)变为终止密码,导致雄激素受体蛋白翻译至441位时终止,产生没有功能的氨基酸多肽残段.结论 Glu441stop(GAA→TAA)是一种导致CAIS的AR基因新的突变方式,之前在世界范围内均未见报道,丰富了AR基因突变谱,增加对CAIS发病机制的了解.     

雄激素受体基因新突变引起的完全型雄激素不敏感综合征

目的 对1例完全型雄激素不敏感综合征(complete androgen insensitivity syndrom,CAIS)的雄激素受体(androgen receptor,AR)基因进行分析,寻找致病突变.方法 提取外周血全基因组DNA,扩增位于X染色体上的AR基因所有8个外显子及邻近外显子与内含子之间的剪切位点DNA序列,对扩增片段直接进行DNA序列测定,与基因库中的序列进行比对.结果 该病例AR基因第1外显子的441位密码子发生无义突变(GAA→TAA),由编码谷氨酸(Glu)变为终止密码,导致雄激素受体蛋白翻译至441位时终止,产生没有功能的氨基酸多肽残段.结论 Glu441stop(GAA→TAA)是一种导致CAIS的AR基因新的突变方式,之前在世界范围内均未见报道,丰富了AR基因突变谱,增加对CAIS发病机制的了解.

Abstract：

Objective To identify the mutation of human androgen receptor gene(AR) in a patient with complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (CAIS). Methods DNA sequences of 8 exons and their exon/intron boundaries of the AR gene in the patient were amplified by PCR and directly sequenced. Results DNA sequencing revealed a nonsense mutation in exon 1, resulting in a change of codon 441 GAA (glutamic acid) to a stop codon (TAA). Conclusion A novel mutation Glu441stop (GAA to TAA) of the androgen receptor gene leading to complete androgen insensitivity syndrome was identified in this study in a Chinese patient. It may help us further understanding the pathogenesis of CAIS.     

雄激素受体基因新突变引起的完全型雄激素不敏感综合征

目的 对1例完全型雄激素不敏感综合征(complete androgen insensitivity syndrom,CAIS)的雄激素受体(androgen receptor,AR)基因进行分析,寻找致病突变.方法 提取外周血全基因组DNA,扩增位于X染色体上的AR基因所有8个外显子及邻近外显子与内含子之间的剪切位点DNA序列,对扩增片段直接进行DNA序列测定,与基因库中的序列进行比对.结果 该病例AR基因第1外显子的441位密码子发生无义突变(GAA→TAA),由编码谷氨酸(Glu)变为终止密码,导致雄激素受体蛋白翻译至441位时终止,产生没有功能的氨基酸多肽残段.结论 Glu441stop(GAA→TAA)是一种导致CAIS的AR基因新的突变方式,之前在世界范围内均未见报道,丰富了AR基因突变谱,增加对CAIS发病机制的了解.     

Analysis of exon 1 mutations in the androgen receptor gene

Eleven mutations in exon 1 of the androgen receptor gene (AR) have been identified in 15 individuals with Androgen Insensitivity syndrome (AIS). Nine of the mutations yield a stop codon directly, or due to a frameshift, in individuals with complete AIS (CAIS). One individual with CAIS had three different mutations in exon 1: one is nominally silent (Glu 211; GAG 995 GAA); two are missense (Pro 390 Arg and Glu 443 Arg). Five unrelated individuals with either CAIS, partial AIS (PAIS) or mild AIS (MAIS) had GAG 995 GAA as their only alteration. This report almost doubles the number of exon 1 mutations stored in the AR Mutation Database, reinforces their highly predominant nonsense character, and identifies Pro 390 and/or Gln 443 as residues that are probably necessary for one or more specific functions of the AR's N-terminal transactivation domain.     

Five novel androgen receptor gene mutations associated with complete androgen insensitivity syndrome

Mutations in the androgen receptor (AR) gene result in androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS). We have identified five novel mutations that result in a complete loss in AR function and are associated with complete AIS. The mutations span all three AR major functional domains. In two cases, the loss of AR function could be explained on the basis of the current knowledge of AR molecular structure and function. N-terminal mutation c.256C>T (p.Gln86X) leads to an early stop codon and abolishes all DNA and ligand binding. The DNA-binding domain mutation c.1685G>A (p.Cys562Tyr) is located in the N-terminal part of the first zinc finger; a mutation in this position is likely to impair the association of the mutated AR with the androgen response element of target genes. The splice site mutation at intron 2/exon 3 junction (c.1766-1G>A) is shown to lead to c.1765_1766 ins69 (p.[Gly589_Lys590ins23;Gly589Glu]). The two novel ligand-binding domain mutations identified were recreated by site-directed mutagenesis. Both mutations c.2171G>T (p.Gly724Val) and c.2435T>C (p.Leu812Pro) abolished AR ligand binding and severely impaired AR mediated transactivation. Residue p.Gly724 is located in the ligand binding domain, between helices 3 and 4. This region is known to be involved not only in ligand binding but also in AR N/C-terminal interactions. The mutation p.Leu812Pro is located in the C-terminal end of helix 8. This domain is highly conserved and critical for ligand binding. This study extends current understanding of AR mutations associated with CAIS.     

Androgen receptor gene mutations identified by SSCP in fourteen subjects with androgen insensitivity syndrome.

The androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS) is a disorder of male sexual development resulting in a wide range of clinical phenotypes. AIS is classified into two phenotypic forms: complete (CAIS) and partial (PAIS). To determine the molecular basis of the phenotypic diversity in AIS, we have studied 27 subjects (13 CAIS, 14 PAIS), spanning the full range of AIS phenotypes. We report the results of a mutation screen of the androgen receptor gene. The coding regions of the gene were amplified by the polymerase chain reaction and screened for single strand conformation polymorphisms to identify mutations. This was followed by DNA sequencing of putative mutant segments. Androgen receptor gene mutations were identified in nine CAIS and five PAIS subjects. Two of the CAIS mutations in exon A resulted in frameshifts. A third CAIS mutation resulted in the deletion of a single amino acid from the ligand binding domain of the receptor. All other mutations caused single amino acid substitutions in the ligand binding domain. These results suggest that mutations affecting the ligand binding domain of the androgen receptor are the most frequent cause of AIS, although some cases of PAIS may be the result of other, as yet undefined, genetic lesions.     

Androgen insensitivity with mental retardation: a contiguous gene syndrome?

We present data to suggest the existence of a mental retardation (MR) locus at Xq11.2-q12 between DXS1 and DXS905, identified in two subjects with complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (CAIS) and MR. Androgen insensitivity syndrome is a disorder of male sexual differentiation caused by a defect in the androgen receptor (AR) gene (Xq11-q12). Two subjects with CAIS resulting from a complete deletion of the AR gene have previously been reported, one of whom also has MR. We have identified another mentally retarded person with a complete deletion of the AR gene. The deletion in the two patients with CAIS and MR extends past the AR gene and includes several marker loci both proximal and distal to the AR gene, the limits of the deletions being DXS1 and DXS905. The deletions in the CAIS patients who do not have MR do not include any of the markers outside the AR gene itself. These data suggest that located close to the AR gene is a gene which is implicated in non-specific MR.     

Leu-676-Pro mutation of the androgen receptor causes complete androgen insensitivity syndrome in a large Hutterite kindred

A large Manitoba Hutterite kindred with X-linked receptor negative complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (CAIS) was studied. In attempts to identify all carriers of the syndrome in this kindred, using the androgen receptor (AR) cDNA, we have found a novel diagnostic Mspl polymorphic pattern, which cosegregates with the disease. This polymorphism was not detected in 79 unrelated X-chromosomes of which 22 were from Hutterite controls. We were able to localize the polymorphism to exon 4, which is known to encode part of the androgen receptor hormone binding domain. A single base substitution (T→C) was detected, which creates a new Mspl site. This novel transition mutation replaces Leu-676 with Pro at a site which is conserved in numerous members of the steroid receptor gene family. Sequencing all 8 exons of the AR revealed the Leu-676→Pro mutation as the only change in the primary structure of the receptor. Transfection of COS-l cells with an expression vector of the mutant AR demonstrates that this point mutation of nucleotide 2558 abolishes receptor binding activity. The mutation can easily be detected by MspI digestion of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified exon 4 product.© 1995 wiley-Liss, Inc.     

雄激素受体基因剪接受点突变G3346→T引起一例完全型雄激素不敏感综合征

目的－探讨完全型雄素不敏感综合征（complete androgen insensitivity syndrome,cAIS)发病的分子机理,并研究雄激素受体（androgen receptor,AR)结构,功能及其与临床表现的关系。方法 用银染聚合酶链反应－单链构象多态性（polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism,PCR-SSCP)及PCR产物直接测序的方法,对1例完全型AIS患者AR基因外显子B－H分别进行了研究。结果 外显子F片段在SSCP分析时有泳动变位,经测序,突变发生在内含子5与外显子F交界处G^3346→T,结论 为首例发现的AR基因剪接受点突变,GU－AG的高度保守对于维持AR的正常功能非常重要。     

Bridging structural biology and genetics by computational methods: an investigation into how the R774C mutation in the AR gene can result in complete androgen insensitivity syndrome

Recent structural studies of the ligand-binding domain (LBD) of the androgen receptor (AR) have raised more questions than answers, as most of the known pathogenic mutations of the AR gene causing androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS) are not in the ligand-binding pocket. In this study, we have investigated one such pathogenic mutation, by examining details of its altered atomic structure using a computational technique of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations extended over 4 ns, effectively creating a 4D structural model. The mutation R774C, which is in the LBD of the AR gene, causes complete AIS (CAIS), producing ARs that have a unique thermolabile profile, being thermostable at 22 degrees C but thermolabile at 37 degrees C. We have therefore investigated this mutation by MD simulations at 293 K (20 degrees C), 300 K (27 degrees C), and 310 K (37 degrees C). The MD simulations indicate that: 1) the mutation causes local structural distortions, which result in changes in the shape of the ligand-binding pocket; 2) the mutation alters the dynamic nature of the protein and results in a more diverse conformational distribution of the ligand-binding pocket; and 3) the effect of the mutation on AR structure could be largely reversed by lowering the temperature at which the MD simulations were conducted. These results therefore strongly support the biochemical data, e.g., the mutants' inability to form AR-ligand complexes at 37 degrees C and its characteristic reversible thermolability, clearly indicating the value of such computational methods.     

Down syndrome in association with features of the androgen insensitivity syndrome.

Three cases of Down syndrome (DS) are reported in association with features of the androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS). All were 47, XY, +21 and reared as females. One case had a normal female phenotype, and two cases showed minimal clitoromegaly and labial fusion. Minor genital underdevelopment has been reported as common in males with DS; however, AIS has not previously been associated with DS. Androgen binding studies in genital skin fibroblasts were normal in two cases and in the 46,XY brother of the third who has perineal hypospadias. Mutation screening of the androgen receptor (AR) gene by PCR-SSCP was normal in all cases. Normal androgen binding and the absence of an identified mutation in the coding region of the AR gene is very unusual in AIS, particularly in the complete form. This finding suggests the operation of hitherto unrecognised genes on chromosome 21 with a role in androgen response and sex differentiation.     

The challenges of androgen insensitivity syndrome

Androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS) is an X-linked recessive genetic syndrome that occurs as result of an androgen receptor mutation; it affects the normal masculinization process in chromosomal male patients. More than 900 androgen receptor mutations that can lead to AIS have been identified. The complete androgen insensitivity is characterized by a total lack of response to androgens, usually in patients with 46XY karyotype but with feminine phenotype. Primary amenorrhoea and inguinal swellings in female patients are the main signs that could raise suspicion for this syndrome. Patients with partial androgen insensitivity have ambiguous genitalia at birth and gynecomastia during puberty, whereas those with mild androgen insensitivity present a normal male phenotype but altered spermatogenesis during adulthood and pubertal gynecomastia. The diagnosis of AIS often proves to be a challenge; its management is complex and requires a multidisciplinary approach to meet decision-making challenges in sex assignment, fertility and timing of gonadectomy, psychological outcomes and genetic counselling.     

The androgen receptor gene mutations database: 2012 update

The current version of the androgen receptor gene (AR) mutations database is described. A major change to the database is that the nomenclature and numbering scheme now conforms to all Human Genome Variation Society norms. The total number of reported mutations has risen from 605 to 1,029 since 2004. The database now contains a number of mutations that are associated with prostate cancer (CaP) treatment regimens, while the number of AR mutations found in CaP tissues has more than doubled from 76 to 159. In addition, in a number of androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS) and CaP cases, multiple mutations have been found within the same tissue samples. For the first time, we report on a disconnect within the AIS phenotype-genotype relationship among our own patient database, in that over 40% of our patients with a classic complete AIS or partial AIS phenotypes did not appear to have a mutation in their AR gene. The implications of this phenomenon on future locus-specific mutation database (LSDB) development are discussed, together with the concept that mutations can be associated with both loss- and gain-of-function, and the effect of multiple AR mutations within individuals. The database is available on the internet (http://androgendb.mcgill.ca), and a web-based LSDB with the variants using the Leiden Open Variation Database platform is available at http://www.lovd.nl/AR.     

Characterization of alternative amino acid substitutions at arginine 830 of the androgen receptor that cause complete androgen insensitivity in three families

We have studied two different missense mutations at arginine-830in exon 7 of the human androgen receptor (hAR) gene that causecomplete androgen insensitivity (CAIS) in three families. Thesesubstitutions result from point mutations at nucleotide 2489:a G     

Complete androgen insensitivity syndrome due to X chromosome inversion: a clinical report

We have studied a patient with complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (CAIS) and a 46, inv(X),Y karyotype. The patient's mother and maternal aunt also carry the inverted X, and the mother is phenotypically normal, with a 46, inv(X),X karyotype, while a maternal aunt has CAIS with a 46,inv(X),Y karyotype. Molecular cytogenetic studies demonstrate that one of the X inversion breakpoints occurs within Xq11.2-12, which is the locus for the androgen receptor. FISH analysis demonstrated that a BAC clone containing the androgen receptor gene was disrupted by the inversion. We therefore hypothesize that disruption of the androgen receptor gene causes CAIS in this patient. This is the first report of CAIS caused by a chromosome inversion.     

Testicular development in the complete androgen insensitivity syndrome

The complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (CAIS), caused by mutations in the androgen receptor (AR) gene, is associated with abnormal testicular development and an increased risk of germ cell malignancy. Previous histological studies in CAIS have selected patients purely on the basis of clinical diagnosis and were mostly based on small numbers, many of whom were post-pubertal. Here, we present 44 cases of CAIS, each with molecular pathological confirmation of an AR mutation. The median age at gonadectomy was 5.5 years (5.5; IQR 1-13). We have been able, therefore, to investigate testicular development in infancy, childhood and puberty, and estimate the incidence of premalignant change in this series. In addition, we have investigated whether the presence of epididymides and/or vasa deferentia in CAIS, previously shown to be associated with residual activity of mutant ARs, is related to a particular testicular phenotype. Epididymides/vasa deferentia were present in 36% of cases and these patients showed varying degrees of seminiferous tubule maturation at puberty above those without epididymides/vasa deferentia (p = 0.003). There were no other histological differences between these patient groups. In both groups, features of testicular degeneration and dysgenesis were present and germ cell development was delayed, with prolonged expression of the gonocyte markers, placental-like alkaline phosphatase and activator protein-2gamma. Germ cell numbers rapidly declined after the first year of life (R(2) = 0.42). Only two cases of carcinoma in situ were identified in our study and both patients were postpubertal (17 and 53 years). From these results and the literature, we conclude that the risk of premalignant change in germ cells is low before and during puberty. Patients can be advised, therefore, that gonadectomy can be delayed to allow for a natural puberty, with low risk of malignant transformation. Our study only included one patient over 18 years, so we cannot comment on the risk of malignant transformation in later life.     

Novel androgen receptor gene mutations in Australian patients with complete androgen insensitivity syndrome

We have identified androgen receptor (AR) gene mutations in eight Australian subjects with complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS). Four individuals, from three families, have novel mutations that introduce premature termination codons. Two siblings have the nonsense mutation Glu681X, and another subject has the nonsense mutation p.Ser884X. The other subject has a CA insertion at codon 829 (c.2847_2848insCA), causing a frameshift mutation that introduces four nonsense amino acids prior to a Stop codon. All the termination codons occur in the ligand binding domain, and cause reduced androgen binding in patient genital skin fibroblasts. Four further patients have missense mutations. One subject has two different mutations, p.Ala645Asp in the hinge region of the receptor, and p.Arg752Gln in the ligand binding domain. Both these mutations have previously been reported in patients with AIS, but the combination of these two mutations in one subject is unique. Another subject has a novel c.2533G>C transversion at the first nucleotide in exon 5, introducing the amino acid change p.Gly724Ala at a highly conserved residue in the ligand binding domain. Androgen binding is normal in fibroblasts from this subject, although other point mutations at this amino acid totally abolish binding. Two other subjects have mutations previously described as causing AIS, namely p.Arg779Trp and p.Val889Met substitutions in the ligand binding domain of the receptor. The p.Arg779Trp mutation is associated with the detection of a truncated AR protein in this patient's fibroblasts, suggesting the mutation renders the receptor susceptible to proteolysis.