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Steroid Receptor

Meaning

Intracellular proteins, typically located in the cytoplasm or nucleus, that specifically bind lipophilic steroid hormones such as cortisol, testosterone, or estrogen, initiating a cascade of genomic or rapid non-genomic cellular responses. These receptors function as ligand-activated transcription factors, dictating the expression of genes controlling development, metabolism, and reproductive function. Their structure determines the specificity of hormonal action.