title: The clinical relevance of steroid hormone receptor corepressors.
abstract: Steroid hormone receptors are ligand-dependent transcription factors that control a variety of essential physiologic and developmental processes in humans. The functional activity of a steroid receptor is regulated not only by hormones but also by an array of regulatory proteins such as coactivators, corepressors, and chromatin modifiers. Contrary to an earlier notion that corepressors and coactivators exist in separate complexes, these molecules, which have apparently opposite functions, are increasingly being found in the same complex, which allows for efficient transcriptional control mechanisms. These control mechanisms are in turn regulated by an array of post-translational modifications under the influence of upstream and local signaling networks. Because the outcome of steroidal hormone receptor transcriptional complexes is measured in terms of the expression of target genes, any dysregulation of coregulator complexes perturbs normal homeostasis and could contribute to the development and maintenance of malignant phenotypes. Increasing evidence implicating steroid hormone receptors and their coregulators in various pathophysiologic conditions has elicited interest in their structure and biology. Further advances in this field of study should open up a unique window for novel targeted therapies for diseases such as cancer. Here we briefly review the clinical relevance of corepressors, with a particular focus on their role in the development of cancerous phenotypes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. rkumar@mdanderson.org
authors.forename: Rakesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Anupama E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Gururaj
authors.forename: Ratna K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Vadlamudi
authors.forename: Suresh K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Rayala
mesh_terms: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D056985:Nuclear Receptor Co-Repressor 2; D047495:PPAR gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D011987:Receptors, Steroid / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C539130:NCOR2 protein, human; D056985:Nuclear Receptor Co-Repressor 2; D047495:PPAR gamma; D011987:Receptors, Steroid; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators