Nuclear hormone receptors in C. elegans.
Nuclear receptors (NRs) are transcription factors typically regulated by lipophilic hormones, which coordinate metazoan metabolism, development and homeostasis. C. elegans has undergone a remarkable expansion of the family, harboring 284 of these receptors in its genome. Approximately 20 of them have been analyzed genetically, most of which correspond to conserved homologs in other metazoans. These NRs variously affect broad life history traits such as sex determination, molting, developmental timing, diapause, and life span. They also impact neural development, axon outgrowth and neuronal identity. Finally, they influence lipid and xenobiotic metabolism. The study of C. elegans NRs holds great promise for dissecting nuclear receptor signaling pathways in vivo in the context of complex endocrine networks.
Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA. aantebi@bcm.tmc.edu
Adam
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Antebi
D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D018978:Molting / Q000502:physiology; D009420:Nervous System / Q000254:growth & development; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000502:physiology*; D019849:Sex Determination Processes; D013045:Species Specificity; D015262:Xenobiotics / Q000494:pharmacology
D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D015262:Xenobiotics