Conversion of transformed androgen and glucocorticoid receptors to higher molecular forms.

The 4 S transformed androgen receptor from rat prostate and thymus converted to a higher molecular form (5-7 S) on low-salt conditions. The converted receptor retained the DNA-binding capacity as well as the 4 S transformed receptor. This conversion was also demonstrated on glucocorticoid receptor from rat liver and thymus. The sedimentation coefficients of both the converted receptors were affected by sodium molybdate, i.e., the receptors converted to a relatively smaller molecule in the presence of molybdate than in the absence of the reagent. These observations suggest that molybdate directly binds to the transformed receptors and prevents the excessive association of a factor(s) to the transformed receptors.