English: Normal function of the androgen receptor. Testosterone (T) enters the cell and, if 5-alpha-reductase is present, is converted into dihydrotestone (DHT). Upon steroid binding, the androgen receptor (AR) undergoes a conformational change and releases heat shock proteins (hsps). Phosphorylation (P) occurs before and / or after steroid binding. The AR translocates to the nucleus where dimerization, DNA binding, and the recruitment of coactivators occur. Target genes are transcribed (mRNA) and translated into proteins. Original work, adapted from the following sources:

This figure is based on an original drawing by Dr. Marianne D Sadar (Meehan KL, Sadar MD. Androgens and androgen receptor in prostate and ovarian malignancies. Front Biosci. 2003 May 1;8:d780-800)."

Additional resources:

Gottlieb B, Lombroso R, Beitel LK, Trifiro MA. Molecular pathology of the androgen receptor in male (in)fertility. Reprod biomed online. 2005;10:42:48.

Choong CS, Wilson EM. Trinucleotide repeats in the human androgen receptor: a molecular basis for the disease. J Mol Endocrinol. 1998;21:235–257.

Quigley CA, De Bellis A, Marschke KB, El-Awady MK, Wilson EM, French FS. Androgen receptor defects: historical, clinical, and molecular perspectives. Endocr Rev. 1995;16:271–321.