Nuclear hormone receptor (NHR)

Nuclear hormone receptors are a large family of intracellular transcription factors that directly bind DNA and regulate the expression of target genes in response to small, lipophilic ligands such as steroid hormones, thyroid hormones, retinoids, and certain vitamins[1][3][4][7][9]. They modulate critical physiological processes including metabolism, development, homeostasis, and cell differentiation[1][9][10]. In humans, there are 48 known nuclear hormone receptors, which are structurally characterized by distinct DNA-binding and ligand-binding domains[3][10]. Upon ligand binding, nuclear hormone receptors undergo a conformational change that promotes association with specific hormone response elements in DNA and recruitment of coactivators or corepressors to modulate transcription[4][8]. They are classified by sequence similarity and mechanism into several subfamilies, including steroid hormone receptors (e.g., estrogen, androgen, glucocorticoid), thyroid/retinoid/vitamin D receptor family, orphan receptors, and others[1][6][7].

Other names

Nuclear receptorNuclear receptor superfamilyNuclear receptor familyNR superfamily

Ligand-dependent gene transcription modulation Coactivator and corepressor recruitment Hormone response element (HRE) binding to DNA Chromatin remodeling