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Updated: Sep 23, 2026

Reverse Yeast Two-hybrid System to Identify Mammalian Nuclear Receptor Residues that Interact with Ligands and/or Antagonists
10:51

Reverse Yeast Two-hybrid System to Identify Mammalian Nuclear Receptor Residues that Interact with Ligands and/or Antagonists

Published on: November 15, 2013

Nuclear receptor coactivator function in reproductive physiology and behavior

Heather A Molenda1, Caitlin P Kilts, Rachel L Allen

  • 1Center for Neuroendocrine Studies, Neuroscience and Behavior Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA.

Biology of Reproduction
|July 12, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Nuclear receptor coactivators are essential for steroid hormone action. This review explores their mechanisms and crucial roles in reproductive physiology and brain development.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Endocrinology
  • Neuroendocrinology
  • Reproductive Biology

Background:

  • Gonadal steroid hormones regulate gene expression impacting reproductive physiology and behavior.
  • Steroid hormone effects are mediated by intracellular receptors, part of the nuclear receptor superfamily.
  • Nuclear receptor coactivators are known to be crucial for efficient steroid receptor transcriptional activity in vitro.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the general mechanisms of nuclear receptor coactivators in steroid-dependent gene transcription.
  • To discuss recent findings on the function of these coactivators in reproductive physiology and behavior.
  • To highlight their roles in steroid-dependent brain development.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of in vitro and in vivo studies.
  • Analysis of coactivator involvement in gene transcription.
  • Synthesis of current research on coactivator functions in reproductive tissues and the brain.

Main Results:

  • Nuclear receptor coactivators are widely distributed in steroid hormone-responsive tissues.
  • Emerging evidence demonstrates their critical roles in vivo, beyond in vitro observations.
  • Coactivators are integral to steroid-dependent processes in the brain, reproductive tract, and mammary gland.

Conclusions:

  • Nuclear receptor coactivators are vital for mediating steroid hormone actions.
  • Understanding coactivator function is key to comprehending reproductive physiology, behavior, and brain development.
  • Further research is needed to fully elucidate their in vivo roles and therapeutic potential.

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