Interaction Between a Novel p21 Activated Kinase (PAK6) and Androgen Receptor in Prostate Cancer

摘要

The effects of androgens are mediated by the androgen receptor (AR), which plays a critical role in inducing normal differentiation of tissues of the reproductive organs and in the development and progression of prostate cancer. The cell cycle signaling regulated by the mitogen activated protein/extracellular- signal-regulated kinase (MAPK/ERK) have been linked to tumor development and progression. The p21-activated kinases (PAKs) are members of Rac/Cdc42-associated Ste20-like ser/thr protein kinases. Previous studies have shown that MAPK/ERK signaling can be mediated via Cdc42/Rac-stimulation of PAK activity. Our finding that AR interacts with a new PAK, PAK6, provided the first link between PAR signaling to the steroid hormone receptor pathway. In this study, we proposed two sets of experiments to further assess biological roles of PAK6 in prostate cancer cells, and to examine the expression of PAK6 in prostate tissues. We anticipate that by completing the above objectives, we will obtain fresh insight into understanding the regulatory processes of the interaction between AR and PAK6, which may contribute to the development of new targets for the treatment of prostate cancer.