Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 15, 2026

Systems Biology of Metabolic Regulation by Estrogen Receptor Signaling in Breast Cancer
Published on: March 17, 2016
Estrogen receptors: orchestrators of pleiotropic cellular responses
1Syngenta Central Toxicology Laboratory, Alderley Park, Macclesfield SK10 4TJ, UK. Jonathan.Moggs@syngenta.com
Abstract:
Estrogen receptors (ERs) orchestrate both transcriptional and non-genomic functions in response to estrogens, xenoestrogens and signals emanating from growth factor signalling pathways. The pleiotropic and tissue-specific effects of estrogens are likely to be mediated by the differential expression of distinct estrogen receptor subtypes (ERalpha and ERbeta) and their coregulators. The recent analysis of transcription complexes associated with estrogen-responsive promoters has revealed unexpected levels of complexity in the dynamics of ER-mediated transcription. Furthermore, a small fraction of ERs also appears to directly interact with components of the cytosolic signalling machinery. Analysis of the interrelationship between these distinct modes of ER action is likely to reveal novel aspects of estrogen signalling that will impact on nuclear receptor biology and human health.
Related Concept Videos
Intracellular Hormone Receptors
Types of Receptors: Internal Receptors
Similar to membrane-bound receptors, the binding of a ligand to the intracellular receptor of causes a conformational change in the...
Signal Transduction: Overview
Typically, signal transduction involves three...
Transducer Mechanism: Nuclear Receptors
About 48 different soluble family members of nuclear receptors are identified that can be divided into two main classes:
Secondary Messengers in Hormone Action
Many hormones bind to transmembrane G protein-coupled receptors that connect to regulatory G proteins. These G proteins can then activate enzymes such as adenylyl cyclase or phospholipase C. Adenylyl cyclase converts ATP to cAMP, activating...
Target Cell Response to Hormones
Notably, the cellular response can be regulated by altering the number of receptors expressed in the cell. For example, prolonged exposure to elevated hormone levels results in a gradual decline or down-regulation in the number of receptors for that specific hormone on the cell surface. Conversely, in response to low hormone levels, cells may use up-regulation, producing an...

