The intricate cellular process that precisely controls the rate at which genetic information encoded in DNA is copied into a complementary strand of messenger RNA (mRNA), fundamentally determining which specific proteins are produced by the cell. This regulation is the primary, long-term mechanism through which steroid and thyroid hormones exert their profound effects on cellular function and overall phenotype. It is a core concept in molecular endocrinology.
Origin
The foundational concepts of gene expression and the control of transcription emerged from landmark discoveries in molecular biology and genetics research during the mid-20th century. Endocrinology subsequently adopted these principles to rigorously explain how lipid-soluble hormones modify target cell behavior via binding to their specific intracellular receptors.
Mechanism
Steroid hormones, due to their lipophilicity, readily diffuse across the cell membrane and bind to specific intracellular receptors, forming an activated hormone-receptor complex. This complex then translocates to the nucleus, where it binds to specific DNA sequences known as hormone response elements. Binding at these sites either promotes or inhibits the recruitment of RNA polymerase, thus upregulating or downregulating the transcription of target genes.
Androgen receptors in breast cells mediate diverse effects, from growth inhibition to proliferation, depending on the cellular context and hormonal balance.
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