Steroidreceptorer

Steroid receptors are a superfamily of intracellular proteins that act as transcription factors. They are primarily located within the cytoplasm or nucleus of a cell and bind to steroid hormones. When a steroid hormone, such as estrogen, testosterone, cortisol, or aldosterone, enters the cell, it binds to its specific receptor. This binding event causes a conformational change in the receptor.

The activated steroid receptor complex then translocates to the nucleus, if it was not already there. Once in the nucleus, the complex binds to specific DNA sequences called hormone response elements (HREs) located in the promoter regions of target genes. This binding event can either activate or repress the transcription of these genes, leading to changes in protein synthesis and ultimately influencing cellular function and physiological responses.

Steroid receptors play crucial roles in a wide range of biological processes, including development, metabolism, immune function, reproduction, and stress response. Their activity is tightly regulated, and dysregulation of steroid receptor signaling is implicated in various diseases, such as certain cancers, metabolic disorders, and inflammatory conditions. The therapeutic targeting of steroid receptors is a common strategy in medicine, with drugs designed to either activate or block their activity.