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The Nuclear Receptor Superfamily pp 3–18Cite as

Nuclear Receptors: One Big Family

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Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology™ ((MIMB,volume 505))

Abstract

It is just over 20 years since the first steroid receptor cDNAs were cloned, a development that led to the birth of a superfamily of ligand activated transcription factors: the nuclear receptors. Natural ligands for nuclear receptors are generally lipophilic in nature and include steroid hormones, bile acids, fatty acids, thyroid hormones, certain vitamins and prostaglandins. These molecules act as sensors of the extracellular and intracellular environment and play crucial roles controlling development, differentiation, metabolic homeostasis, and reproduction. Since the original cloning experiments considerable progress has been made in our understanding of the structure, mechanisms of action and biology of this important family of proteins.

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  1. School of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK, Scotland

    Iain J. McEwan

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    Iain J. McEwan

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© 2009 Humana Press, a part of Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

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McEwan, I.J. (2009). Nuclear Receptors: One Big Family. In: McEwan, I.J. (eds) The Nuclear Receptor Superfamily. Methods in Molecular Biology™, vol 505. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-575-0_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-575-0_1

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-60327-574-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-60327-575-0

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