Nuclear Receptor (NR)

Nuclear receptors are a superfamily of ligand-regulated transcription factors that play central roles in regulating gene expression in response to small, lipophilic molecules such as steroid hormones, thyroid hormones, retinoic acid, oxysterols, and vitamins A and D. They are essential for numerous physiological processes including metabolism, reproduction, development, inflammation control, circadian rhythm regulation, and cell differentiation. Upon binding their cognate ligands, they undergo conformational changes that enable them to regulate target gene expression by binding to specific DNA sequences and recruiting co-regulators.

Other names

Steroid hormone receptorIntracellular receptorLigand-activated transcription factor

Ligand binding induces conformational change, leading to DNA binding and regulation of gene transcription via recruitment of coactivators or corepressors.