beta-catenin affects androgen receptor transcriptional activity and ligandspecificity

beta-Catenin is a multifunctional molecule with important roles in intercel lular adhesion and signal transduction. We reported previously that beta-ca tenin is mutated in human prostate cancer. In this study, we investigated t he role of beta-catenin mutations on androgen receptor (AR) signaling. beta -Catenin significantly enhanced androgen-stimulated transcriptional activat ion by the AR. beta-Catenin also increased AR transcriptional activation by androstenedione and estradiol and diminished the antagonism of bicalutamid e, Coimmunoprecipitation of beta-catenin with AR from LNCaP prostate cancer cells showed that the two molecules are present in the same complex. The a mount of beta-catenin in complex with AR was increased by androgen. These f indings implicate beta-catenin in the regulation of AR function and support a role for beta-catenin mutations in the pathogenesis of prostate cancer.