Acting principally to control patterns of gene expression, nuclear receptors play vital roles during embryonic development and in the regulation of metabolic and reproductive functions in adult life, which proves this superfamily of ligand-activated transcription factors to be a crucial part of biological life. In The Nuclear Receptor Superfamily: Methods and Protocols, expert researchers describe a range of molecular, structural and cell biological techniques currently used to investigate the structure-function of nuclear receptors, together with experimental approaches that may lead to new therapeutic strategies for treating nuclear receptor-associated diseases. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular BiologyTM series format, the chapters in this volume contain brief introductions to the topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, as well as notes from the experts to highlight tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Cutting-edge and easy to use, The Nuclear Receptor Superfamily: Methods and Protocols provides beneficial and time-saving guidance for all those undertaking research in this ever-growing field of study.

The steroid / nuclear receptor superfamily is a large and growing group of transcription factors that are studied by a large and varied number of basic and clinical researchers. The first two chapters describe the evolutionary biology of the superfamily and explain how to clone and characterize new receptors. Chapter 3 shows how to identify the ligands of novel receptors and chapter 4 explains the kinetic analysis of receptor interactions. In chapter 5, the reader is guided through the functional characterization of coactivators using microinjection. The next section covers receptor phosphorylation, ligand regulated transcription, and hormone resistance syndromes. Chapter 9 describes the in vitro assembly of Hsp90 complexes and chapter 10 explains yeast as a model system for looking at receptor function. The final chapter shows how heterologous proteins can be regulated by fusion to the hormone binding domain of a receptor. Nuclear Receptors: A Practical Approach is a comprehensive guide to studying members of the superfamily and will be invaluable to all researchers old and new.

Acting principally to control patterns of gene expression, nuclear receptors play vital roles during embryonic development and in the regulation of metabolic and reproductive functions in adult life, which proves this superfamily of ligand-activated transcription factors to be a crucial part of biological life. In The Nuclear Receptor Superfamily: Methods and Protocols, expert researchers describe a range of molecular, structural and cell biological techniques currently used to investigate the structure-function of nuclear receptors, together with experimental approaches that may lead to new therapeutic strategies for treating nuclear receptor-associated diseases. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular BiologyTM series format, the chapters in this volume contain brief introductions to the topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, as well as notes from the experts to highlight tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Cutting-edge and easy to use, The Nuclear Receptor Superfamily: Methods and Protocols provides beneficial and time-saving guidance for all those undertaking research in this ever-growing field of study.

Nuclear Receptors focuses on the structural analysis of nuclear receptors from the initial work using isolated protein domains to the more recent exciting developments investigating the conformational shape of full-length receptor complexes. The book also reviews the structure of key nuclear receptor co-regulatory proteins. It brings together, for the first time, a comprehensive review of nuclear receptor structure and the importance of receptor conformation underpinning allosteric regulation by different ligands (hormone, drugs, DNA response elements, protein-protein interactions) and receptor activity. The nuclear receptor superfamily, including receptors for steroid hormones and non-steroid ligands, are pivotal to normal physiology, regulating processes as diverse as reproduction, metabolism, the immune system and brain development. The first members of the family were cloned over 25 years ago, which heralded in the idea of a superfamily of intracellular receptor proteins that bound small molecule ligands: classical steroid hormones, vitamins, fatty acids and other products of metabolism. These signals are then transmitted through multiprotein receptor-DNA complexes, leading to the regulation of target genes, often in a cell-selective manner. The cloning of the receptor cDNAs also ushered in an era of unparalleled analysis of the mechanisms of action of these ligand-activated transcription factors. ​

Steroid Dynamics compiles papers presented at the Symposium on the Dynamics of Steroid Hormones held in Tokyo, in May 1965. This compilation discusses the effect of LH and ACTH on production and excretion of testosterone in vivo, estrogen receptors in target tissues, and influence of morphine on corticoid production. The binding of steroids to follicular fluid proteins, conjugation and excretion of aldosterone, and active cholesterol pool for corticodogenesis in the rat adrenal are also elaborated. This book likewise covers the dynamics of steroid hormone distribution in the body, biosynthesis of steroids in testicular tissue in vitro, and isotopic dilution methods for the estimation of rates of secretion of the steroid hormones. This publication is a good reference for endocrinologists, biochemists, and medical practitioners interested in steroid dynamics.

The nuclear receptor superfamily represents a large number of structurally related proteins that mediate the diverse responses to both steroid and non-steroid ligands. In addition, a large proportion of nuclear receptors are termed orphans, as the natural ligand, if it exists, remains to be identified. Since the first steroid receptors were cloned in the mid-1980s, the intervening period has seen a tremendous increase in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of nuclear receptor signalling. and graduate students, contemporary developments and highlight future directions in this field. The topics should also be of interest to researchers who need to brush-up on unfamiliar aspects of this burgeoning field. The nuclear receptor superfamily represents a large number of structurally related proteins that mediate the diverse responses to both steroid and non-steroid ligands. In addition, a large proportion of nuclear receptors are termed orphans, as the natural ligand, if it exists, remains to be identified. Since the first steroid receptors were cloned in the mid-1980s, the intervening period has seen a tremendous increase in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of nuclear receptor signalling.

In 1890 a case of myxedema was treated in Lisbon by the implantation of a sheep thyroid gland with the immediate improvement in the patient’s condition. A few years later, medications for the then ill-explained condition of the menopause included tablets made from cow ovaries. In the first quarter of the 20th century the identification of vitamin D, and its sunlight driven production in skin, paved the way to the elimination of rickets as a major medical problem. Twenty years or so later, Sir Vincent Wigglesworth established the endocrine basis of developmental moulting in insects, arguably the most commonly performed animal behaviour on Planet Earth. A paradigm that would unify these disparate observations arose between 1985 and 1987 beginning with the identification of the glucocorticoid receptor and the nuclear receptor super-family. What follows is a timely and positive manifestation of the capacity, productivity and value of international human scientific endeavour. Based on intrigue, lively competition and cooperation a global effort has rapidly fostered a school of biology with widespread ramifications for the understanding of metazoan animals, the human condition and the state of the planet. This book is the first this century to try and capture the spirit of this endeavour, to depict where the field is now and to identify some of the challenges and opportunities for the future.