A Novel Polymorphism in a Forkhead Box A1 (FOXA1) Binding Site of the Human UDP Glucuronosyltransferase 2B17 Gene Modulates Promoter Activity and Is Associated with Altered Levels of Circulating Androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol Glucuronide

Abstract

UDP glucuronosyltransferase 2B17 is present in the prostate, where it catalyzes the addition of glucuronic acid to testosterone and dihydrotestosterone and their metabolites androsterone and androstane-3α,17β-diol. Hence, changes in UGT2B17 gene expression may affect the capacity of the prostate to inactivate and eliminate male sex hormones. In this work, we identify a prevalent polymorphism, -155G/A, in the proximal promoter of the UGT2B17 gene. This polymorphism modulates UGT2B17 promoter activity, because luciferase-gene reporter constructs containing the -155A allele were 13-fold more active than those containing the -155G allele in prostate cancer LNCaP cells. The -155G/A polymorphism i..