title: RXRs: collegial partners.
abstract: Retinoid X Receptors (RXR) were initially identified as nuclear receptors binding with stereo-selectivity the vitamin A derivative 9-cis retinoic acid, although the relevance of this molecule as endogenous activator of RXRs is still elusive. Importantly, within the nuclear receptor superfamily, RXRs occupy a peculiar place, as they are obligatory partners for a number of other nuclear receptors, thus integrating the corresponding signaling pathways. In this chapter, we describe the structural features allowing RXR to form homo- and heterodimers, and the functional consequences of this unique ability. Furthermore, we discuss the importance of studying RXR activity at a genome-wide level in order to comprehensively address the biological implications of their action that is fundamental to understand to what extent RXRs could be exploited as new therapeutic targets.
authors: Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, Genopode Building, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland, Federica.Gilardi@unil.ch.
authors: Federica
authors: F
authors: Gilardi
authors: Béatrice
authors: B
authors: Desvergne
mesh_terms: D000077556:Alitretinoin; D000818:Animals; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D051379:Mice; D011485:Protein Binding; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D055503:Protein Multimerization; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020218:Response Elements; D047488:Retinoid X Receptors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D008024:Ligands; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid; D047488:Retinoid X Receptors; D000077556:Alitretinoin; D014212:Tretinoin