Nuclear Receptors: A Historical Perspective

Methods Mol Biol. 2019:1966:1-5. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9195-2_1.

Abstract

In this chapter, we summarize the birth of the field of nuclear receptors. These receptors exhibit a multitude of roles in cell biology and hence have attracted a great deal of interest in the drug discovery field. It is not certain whether these receptors evolved independently or an ancestral protein acquired various functions upon binding to preexisting small molecules, ligands. Currently, members of this receptor superfamily are categorized in six groups, including "orphan receptors." Research in the area has resulted in several clinically used drugs and continues to reveal further previously unknown roles for these receptors paving the road toward more valuable discoveries in the future.

Keywords: Nuclear receptor; Steroid receptor; Transcriptional regulation.

Publication types

  • Introductory Journal Article
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Humans
  • Ligands
  • Orphan Nuclear Receptors / metabolism*
  • Orphan Nuclear Receptors / physiology
  • Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / metabolism
  • Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / physiology
  • Receptors, Steroid / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Steroid / physiology
  • Signal Transduction*

Substances

  • Ligands
  • Orphan Nuclear Receptors
  • Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear
  • Receptors, Steroid