title: Steroid receptor action.
abstract: The ovarian hormones oestradiol and progesterone exert their actions on target cells predominantly through the binding and activation of the oestrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR), respectively. These receptors are members of the steroid/thyroid hormone superfamily of ligand-dependent transcription factors and bind to the control regions (promoters) of specific genes, where they recruit co-activators or co-repressors and the transcriptional machinery necessary to elicit gene expression. The ability of a nuclear receptor to modulate gene transcription is further dependent on its interaction with other transcription factors, which in turn can be regulated by either distinct or multiple cytoplasmic signalling pathways. This chapter summarises the extraordinary diversity of factors involved in determining the cellular response to a hormonal signal and emphasises the role of ER and PR in regulating ovarian and uterine functions.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital, Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Wolfson and Weston Research Centre for Family Health, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK. j.brosens@imperial.ac.uk
authors.forename: Jan J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Brosens
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tullet
authors.forename: Rana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Varshochi
authors.forename: Eric W-F
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Lam
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004717:Endometrium / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D010053:Ovary / Q000502:physiology*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000502:physiology*; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D014157:Transcription Factors