Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 1, 2026

Detecting the Ligand-binding Domain Dimerization Activity of Estrogen Receptor Alpha Using the Mammalian Two-Hybrid Assay
09:07

Detecting the Ligand-binding Domain Dimerization Activity of Estrogen Receptor Alpha Using the Mammalian Two-Hybrid Assay

Published on: December 19, 2018

Fatal attraction - the fos-jun affair with nuclear receptors

P Sassonecorsi

    International Journal of Oncology
    |May 18, 2011
    PubMed

    Insights

    Cellular signaling pathways control growth and differentiation. Dysregulation of these pathways, involving transcription factors, can lead to uncontrolled cell proliferation and tumor development.

    Area of Science:

    • Cell Biology
    • Molecular Biology
    • Cancer Biology

    Background:

    • Cellular physiology, including growth and differentiation, is regulated by signaling pathways.
    • Aberrant signaling contributes to deregulated cell proliferation and tumorigenesis.
    • Transcription factors are key regulators of gene expression modulated by signaling.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To elucidate the principal signaling pathways that convey information to the nucleus.
    • To understand how these pathways modulate transcription factor activity.
    • To highlight the role of signaling in normal cell physiology and disease.

    Main Methods:

    • Analysis of signal transduction mechanisms.
    • Investigation of cell surface receptor pathways.
    • Examination of nuclear receptor-mediated signaling.

    Main Results:

    • Two main pathways transmit signals to the nucleus: cell surface receptor-mediated and nuclear receptor-mediated.
    • Cell surface receptors activate intracellular signaling systems targeting transcription factors.
    • Nuclear receptors directly regulate transcription upon binding hormones or related molecules.

    Conclusions:

    • Signal transduction is fundamental to cellular regulation and gene expression.
    • Understanding these pathways is crucial for comprehending tumorigenesis.
    • Both cell surface and nuclear receptors play distinct but vital roles in cellular control.

    More Related Videos

    Fluorescence-Based Detection of FEN1 Nuclease Activity and Screening of Small-Molecule Inhibitors05:46

    Fluorescence-Based Detection of FEN1 Nuclease Activity and Screening of Small-Molecule Inhibitors

    Published on: June 27, 2025

    Related Concept Videos

    Transducer Mechanism: Nuclear Receptors01:31

    Transducer Mechanism: Nuclear Receptors

    Nuclear receptors, or NRs, are unique transcription factors that regulate gene transcription and affect the cellular pathways involved in reproduction, development, or metabolism. Their ability to be stimulated by small lipophilic ligands and control vital cellular processes makes them ideal drug targets. Nearly 10-15% of currently prescribed drugs target these receptors.
    About 48 different soluble family members of nuclear receptors are identified that can be divided into two main classes:
    NF-κB-dependent Signaling Pathway02:26

    NF-κB-dependent Signaling Pathway

    The transcription factor NF-κB was discovered in 1986 in the lab of Nobel laureate Professor David Baltimore, for its interaction with the immunoglobulin light chain enhancer in B-cells. After more than three decades of study, it is now evident that NF-κB regulates the expression of over 100 genes. Most of these genes play an essential role in the innate and adaptive immune responses as well as the inflammatory responses of animals.
    NF-κB-dependent Signaling Mechanism
    The heterodimer of NF-κB...
    Drug-Receptor Bonds01:25

    Drug-Receptor Bonds

    Drug-receptor bonds are formed through various chemical forces when drugs interact with target cells. Covalent bonds, strong and irreversible, are exemplified by DNA-alkylating anticancer agents that inhibit cell division. However, such irreversible drug binding lacks selectivity and can modify the DNA of the surrounding healthy cells. Covalent binding often contributes to tissue toxicity, as seen with chloroform and paracetamol metabolites binding to the liver, causing hepatotoxicity.
    In...
    Nuclear Fission02:50

    Nuclear Fission

    Many heavier elements with smaller binding energies per nucleon can decompose into more stable elements that have intermediate mass numbers and larger binding energies per nucleon—that is, mass numbers and binding energies per nucleon that are closer to the “peak” of the binding energy graph near 56. Sometimes neutrons are also produced. This decomposition of a large nucleus into smaller pieces is called fission. The breaking is rather random with the formation of a large number of different...
    Nuclear Binding Energy02:13

    Nuclear Binding Energy

    The difference between the calculated and experimentally measured masses is known as the mass defect of the atom. In the case of helium-4, the mass defect indicates a “loss” in mass of 4.0331 amu – 4.0026 amu = 0.0305 amu. The loss in mass accompanying the formation of an atom from protons, neutrons, and electrons is due to the conversion of that mass into energy that is evolved as the atom forms. The nuclear binding energy is the energy produced when the atoms’ nucleons are bound together;...
    Drug-Receptor Interaction: Agonist01:25

    Drug-Receptor Interaction: Agonist

    Agonists are drugs that interact with specific receptors in the body to produce a biological response. When an agonist binds to a receptor, it activates or enhances the receptor's function, leading to physiological effects. The interaction between agonist drugs and receptors is crucial for their therapeutic action in various medical treatments.
    Agonists can bind to receptors in different ways. Some agonists bind directly to the receptor's active site, mimicking the endogenous ligand's action.