Cancer progression is associated with the evolutionary accumulation of genetic mutations that are biologically significant. Mutations of the
androgen receptor (AR) are associated with the development of
prostate cancer (PCa) by responding to non-androgenic
hormones, and the lack of annotations in their responsiveness to
hormone ligands remains a daunting challenge. Here, we have used a yeast reporter system to quickly evaluate the responsiveness of all fifty clinical AR mutations to a variety of steroidal
ligands including
dihydrotestosterone (DHT), 17β-estradiol (E2),
progesterone (PROG), and
cyproterone acetate (CPA). Based on an AR-driven reporter that synthesizes
histidine, a
basic amino acid required for yeast survival and propagation, the yeast reporter system enabling clonal selection was further empowered by combining with a random
DNA mutagenesis library to simulate the natural evolution of AR gene under the selective pressures of steroidal
ligands. In a time-frame of 1-2 weeks, 19 AR mutants were identified, in which 11 AR mutants were validated for activation by tested steroidal compounds. The high efficiency of our artificial evolution strategy was further evidenced by a sequential selection that enabled the discovery of multipoint AR mutations and evolution directions under the pressure of steroidal
ligands. In summary, our designer yeast is a portable reporter module that can be readily adapted to streamline high-throughput AR-compound screening, used as a PCa clinical reference, and combined with additional bioassay systems to further extend its potential.