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Structure and function of nuclear hormone receptors.
1Molecular Endocrinology Laboratory, Imperial Cancer Research Fund, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, UK.
Seminars in Cancer Biology
|February 1, 1990
Summary
Nuclear hormone receptors are ligand-dependent transcription factors. Understanding their domains and aberrant forms, like v-erb A, is crucial for developing targeted cancer therapies.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Endocrinology
- Genetics
Background:
- Nuclear hormone receptors are transcription factors that regulate gene expression upon ligand binding.
- These receptors are structurally and functionally related, including those for steroid hormones, thyroid hormone, and vitamins like retinoic acid.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the functional domains of nuclear hormone receptors.
- To investigate the role of aberrant nuclear hormone receptors in diseases such as cancer.
Main Methods:
- Identification of functional domains responsible for ligand binding, nuclear localization, dimerization, DNA binding, and transcriptional activation.
- Analysis of aberrant receptor forms, such as v-erb A, in oncogenesis.
- Investigation of steroid hormone receptor influence on human cancers.
Main Results:
- Key functional domains of nuclear hormone receptors have been identified and are undergoing characterization.
- An aberrant thyroid hormone receptor, v-erb A, demonstrates oncogenic activity in avian erythroid cells.
- Androgens and estrogens impact the growth of several common human cancers.
Conclusions:
- Nuclear hormone receptors are critical regulators with diverse roles in cellular processes.
- Aberrant receptor activity and hormone signaling are implicated in cancer development.
- Therapeutic strategies targeting steroid hormone action are under development and show clinical utility.