Steroid hormones interact with specific receptors within target cells. The steroid-receptor complexes then regulate the rate of which of the following intracellular processes?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Steroid hormones bind to intracellular receptors, forming complexes that act as transcription factors to regulate the transcription of specific genes.  Steroid hormones are lipophilic and hence freely penetrate the plasma membrane of all cells. Within target cells, steroid hormones interact with specific receptors. These receptor proteins are composed of 2 domains: a hormone-binding domain and a DNAbinding domain. Following hormone-receptor interaction the complex is activated and enters the nucleus. The DNA-binding domain of the receptor interacts with specific nucleotide sequences termed hormone response elements (HREs). The binding of steroidreceptor complexes to HREs results in an altered rate of transcription of the associated gene(s). The effects of steroid-receptor complexes on specific target genes can be either stimulatory or inhibitory with respect to the rate of transcription

Steroid Hormones Interact with Specific Receptors Within Target Cells