What is the Origin of Thyroid Receptors?

The name is descriptive, combining thyroid, referring to the hormone source, with receptors, from the Latin receptor meaning "receiver." The discovery of these nuclear proteins in the mid-20th century was pivotal, establishing that thyroid hormones primarily exert their effects by directly modulating gene expression.

What is the Mechanism of Thyroid Receptors?

The active thyroid hormone, T3, enters the cell and translocates to the nucleus where it binds to the TR, which is typically already complexed with DNA at specific Thyroid Response Elements (TREs) within the promoter regions of target genes. Upon T3 binding, the receptor complex undergoes a conformational change, leading to the recruitment of coactivator proteins and the dissociation of corepressors. This event dramatically alters the transcription rate of genes responsible for key metabolic enzymes and structural proteins, thereby profoundly regulating overall cellular activity.

Thyroid Receptors

Meaning

Thyroid receptors (TRs) are a critical family of intracellular nuclear receptors that function as ligand-dependent transcription factors, mediating virtually all the biological effects of the thyroid hormones, predominantly triiodothyronine (T3). These receptors are ubiquitously expressed across almost all body tissues, reflecting the pervasive and fundamental influence of thyroid hormones on cellular metabolism, growth, development, and cardiac contractility. The proper functional integrity of these receptors is indispensable for maintaining systemic energy homeostasis and metabolic rate.