How male sex hormones and their receptor control genes
Reproductive Hormones - Biological and Molecular Actions
This project aims to map how the male hormone receptor and its partner proteins assemble to turn genes on or off in ways that matter for people with androgen-related reproductive conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11304536 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From my perspective, the team is working to see exactly how the androgen receptor (the protein that responds to male hormones) hooks up with helper proteins to switch genes on in reproductive tissues. They will use high-resolution cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and proteomics to visualize and characterize full-length protein complexes made of AR, SRC-2, and p300. That structural view will reveal where hormones and drugs bind, how mutations disrupt assembly, and why some people develop androgen-insensitivity. The work is lab-based at Baylor College of Medicine and may use patient-derived receptor variants or samples to relate structures to real-world genetic changes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with androgen-insensitivity syndrome, unexplained male reproductive problems, or known androgen receptor gene variants would be most relevant to this research.
Not a fit: Patients whose conditions are unrelated to androgen signaling, such as structural genital anomalies or non-hormonal infertility causes, are unlikely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could improve diagnosis and point toward better-targeted treatments for androgen-insensitivity and other androgen-related reproductive disorders.
How similar studies have performed: Recent cryo-EM and proteomics work has successfully resolved related nuclear receptor complexes, but resolving full-length androgen receptor assemblies is a newer and still-developing direction.
Where this research is happening
Houston, United States
- Baylor College of Medicine — Houston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lonard, David M — Baylor College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Lonard, David M
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.