Related Experiment Videos
[The Anders Jahres Prize. Intracellular signal transmission via dioxin receptors]
1Institutionen for medicinsk naringslara, Novum, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge.
Abstract:
The intracellular dioxin receptor mediates the biological effects of dioxins and related environmental pollutants. The dioxin receptor belongs to a novel subclass of DNA binding transcription factors. In addition to the receptor, this very class comprises a neurodevelopmental factor in Drosophila [correction of Drosphila] melanogaster, and a gene on chromosome 21 that is possibly critical for Down syndrome in man. In analogy to the dioxin receptor these factors may represent "orphan" receptors with as yet unidentified classes of ligands. The mechanism of action of the dioxin receptors is similar to that of members of the steroid hormone receptor gene family. Structurally, however, the dioxin receptor is distinct from steroid hormone receptors.