Abstract

The initiation of gene expression relies on transient protein protein interactions between the transactivation domains of transcription factors and the basal transcription machinery. Such transactivation domains are in general intrinsically disordered and their affinity for the transcription machinery and, as a consequence, their ability to activate transcription can be modulated by changes in their propensity to adopt secondary structure as well as by post translational modifications. In my laboratory we are very interested in understanding how the transcription factor androgen receptor activates transcription because inhibiting this process represents a powerful therapeutic approach to halt the progression of prostate cancer that has become refractory to hormone therapy, the first line treatment for this disease. In my talk I will present our current understanding of this topic, which we have obtained by using nuclear magnetic resonance as well as cell biology techniques.