Nuclear retinoid receptors: mediators of retinoid effects
Van der Saag, P.T.
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 50(Suppl 3): S24-S28
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0954-3007 PMID: 8841770 Document Number: 458244
Nuclear receptors for retinoids were discovered in 1987 and appeared to belong to the superfamily of steroid/thyroid hormone receptors characterized by a common structure in which the different functions (trans-activation, DNA binding and ligand binding) are present in discrete modular domains in the protein. Retinoid receptors, however, are characterized by several unique features: a multiplicity of receptors and ligands, heterodimer formation and multiple direct repeats as response elements. All these mechanisms are exploited by retinoid receptors to fulfil their multiple tasks in controlling growth, development, differentiation and carcinogenesis.