Overview

The steroid hormone cell signaling functions in transcriptional activation and gene expression. The steroid hormone signaling pathway may be activated by steroid hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone, which bind to a steroid binding protein (SBP). [1]

Figure 1. Steroid hormones (e.g., estrogen, androgen, progesterone) travel through the bloodstream from an endocrine gland bound by a steroid binding protein (SBP). The steroid is released from the SBP and is transported across the extracellular membrane and into the cell where is binds a nuclear receptor (e.g., ESR1, AR, PGR). The steroid also binds a heat shock protein (HSP90), a chaperone protein that aids in protein folding. HSP90 dissociates, and the steroid and nuclear receptor cross the nuclear membrane. The steroid and nuclear receptor homodimerize and bind to the hormone response element (HRE) within the promoter of a gene, which activates gene transcription and promotes cell growth and survival. Specific nodes in the pathway that are therapeutically actionable are noted.

References

1. All assertions and clinical trial landscape data are curated from primary sources. You can read more about the curation process here.