Kennedy's disease is a degenerative disorder of motor neurons caused by the expansion of
a glutamine tract near the amino terminus of the androgen receptor (AR). Ligand binding to
the receptor is associated with several post-translational modifications, but it is poorly
understood whether these affect the toxicity of the mutant protein. Our studies now
demonstrate that mutation of lysine residues in wild-type AR that are normally acetylated in a
ligand-dependent manner mimics the effects of the expanded glutamine tract on receptor …