The isolation and characterization of androgen-dependent genes in the flank organs of golden Syrian hamsters

To elucidate the molecular action of androgens, we have isolated two androgen-dependent genes, FAR-17a and -17c, from the cDNA library of flank organs of male golden Syrian hamsters by a differential hybridization method. FAR-17a has been reported previously. Androgens regulated the expression in the flank organs, ear lobe and skin. FAR-17a protein was located in sebaceous glands. FAR-17c has a similar expression pattern to that of FAR-17a, but its response to androgen is faster than that of FAR-17a. It is expressed strongly in the liver, sebaceous glands and brain. The homology search and mRNA expression pattern suggested that it might encode a stearyl CoA desaturase (SCD) of golden Syrian hamsters. The SCD is a key enzyme in fatty acid biosynthesis and its expression is controlled by temperature, nutritional conditions and hormones. This is the first report that the mRNA expression of stearyl CoA is regulated by androgens.