STEROID RECEPTOR Meaning and
Definition
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A steroid receptor refers to a protein molecule present within cells that binds to steroid hormones and plays a crucial role in their signaling pathways. Steroid receptors are part of a larger family of nuclear receptors that include receptors for various other hormones, such as thyroid hormones, retinoids, and vitamin D. These receptors are predominantly localized in the nucleus of cells, where they regulate gene expression and initiate cellular responses upon binding to specific steroid hormones.
Steroid receptors possess three distinct functional domains: a DNA-binding domain, a hormone-binding domain, and an activation or ligand-dependent transactivation domain. The DNA-binding domain enables the receptor to bind to specific DNA sequences known as hormone response elements (HREs) located in the promoter region of target genes. The hormone-binding domain allows the receptor to interact with its specific steroid hormone ligand, which triggers conformational changes and subsequent activation of the receptor. The activation domain is responsible for recruiting coactivator proteins and influencing gene expression.
Upon activation, the steroid receptor-hormone complex translocates to the nucleus and binds to its specific HREs, leading to the recruitment of coactivator proteins that facilitate gene transcription. This transcriptional regulation ultimately influences cellular processes like growth, metabolism, and reproduction. Different steroid receptors have varied tissue distribution and ligand specificities, allowing for diverse physiological responses to specific steroid hormones.
Steroid receptors are of great importance in both normal physiological processes and in diseases. Dysregulation of steroid receptors can lead to disorders, such as hormone-dependent cancers, metabolic disorders, and reproductive dysfunctions. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms of steroid receptor function and their signaling pathways is critical for clinical applications, including the development of targeted therapies and drugs aimed at modulating steroid receptor activity.
Common Misspellings for STEROID RECEPTOR
- ateroid receptor
- zteroid receptor
- xteroid receptor
- dteroid receptor
- eteroid receptor
- wteroid receptor
- sreroid receptor
- sferoid receptor
- sgeroid receptor
- syeroid receptor
- s6eroid receptor
- s5eroid receptor
- stwroid receptor
- stsroid receptor
- stdroid receptor
- strroid receptor
- st4roid receptor
- st3roid receptor
- steeoid receptor
- stedoid receptor
Etymology of STEROID RECEPTOR
The word "steroid receptor" can be broken down into two parts: "steroid" and "receptor".
The term "steroid" originates from the Greek word "stereos", meaning solid or firm, and "eidos", meaning shape or form. It was coined by German chemist Friedrich Wöhler in 1851 to describe a class of organic compounds characterized by a specific molecular structure. Steroids are a type of lipid molecule composed of a specific arrangement of carbon atoms forming four rings.
The term "receptor" comes from the Latin word "receptus", a participle form of the verb "recipere", meaning to receive or take. In biological contexts, a receptor refers to a molecule within a cell or on the cell membrane that binds to specific compounds (such as hormones) to initiate a response within the cell.
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