-“Exon 1” might refer to the actual gene, or the corresponding RNA transcript.
-Exon 1 of the AR gene contains DNA/RNA coding for a ligand binding domain and a region responsible for dimerization of 2 recptors after nuclear localization. For whatever reason, AR splice variants that are transcriptionally active, but missing exon 1 have been found in abundance in androgen insensitive prostate cancer cells. and have been found to be produced in abundance after androgen deprivation therapy has been initiated. Not sure how the receptors could be functional without a ligand binding domain, but apparently they are.
-RT-PCR (a method that produces DNA from RNA) could have been used to produce “diagnostics purposes only” DNA with exon 1 missing from the mRNA in that case.
Anyways, many questions to be answered.
Has anyone contacted this researcher who MXrider spoke of?