Estrogen-related receptor alpha (ERRα)

Estrogen-related receptor alpha (ERRα), also known as ESRRA or NR3B1, is an orphan nuclear receptor that plays a central role in regulating cellular metabolism, particularly in tissues with high energy demands such as cardiac and skeletal muscle. Despite its structural similarity to classical estrogen receptors, ERRα does not bind estrogens with high affinity and has no well-established endogenous ligand. ERRα acts primarily as a transcription factor, binding specific DNA sequences to regulate genes involved in mitochondrial biogenesis, oxidative phosphorylation, and fatty acid oxidation. It is predominantly expressed in metabolically active tissues like the heart, skeletal muscle, and brown adipose tissue and is implicated in diseases such as cancer, insulin resistance, and NAFLD.

Other names

ESRRANR3B1

Binds to specific DNA sequences (TNAAGGTCA) to regulate gene expression; interacts with PGC-1α to enhance mitochondrial function and metabolic regulation.