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Co-Regulatory Proteins

Meaning

Co-regulatory proteins are a diverse and dynamic family of non-DNA-binding nuclear proteins that directly interact with activated nuclear hormone receptors, including those for androgens, estrogens, and glucocorticoids. These essential molecules function as molecular intermediaries, dynamically modulating the rate of transcription for specific target genes in response to a hormonal signal. They are broadly categorized as coactivators, which enhance gene expression, or corepressors, which inhibit it, thereby determining the tissue-specific cellular outcome of a hormone’s action. Their balanced function is critical for endocrine specificity.