Nuclear receptors, RXR, and the big bang

Ronald M. Evans, David J. Mangelsdorf

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

848 Scopus citations

Abstract

Isolation of genes encoding the receptors for steroids, retinoids, vitamin D, and thyroid hormone and their structural and functional analysis revealed an evolutionarily conserved template for nuclear hormone receptors. This discovery sparked identification of numerous genes encoding related proteins, termed orphan receptors. Characterization of these orphan receptors and, in particular, of the retinoid X receptor (RXR) positioned nuclear receptors at the epicenter of the "Big Bang" of molecular endocrinology. This Review provides a personal perspective on nuclear receptors and explores their integrated and coordinated signaling networks that are essential for multicellular life, highlighting the RXR heterodimer and its associated ligands and transcriptional mechanism.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)255-266
Number of pages12
JournalCell
Volume157
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 27 2014

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

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