Intracellular receptors or nuclear receptors are a class of receptor located inside the cell rather than on its cell membrane. Their ligands (substances that bind to them) are hormones, eicosanoids, vitamins (vitamin A and vitamin D) and various other substances.

Practically all intracellular receptors are transcription factors; when activated they migrate to the nucleus and bind to DNA, stimulating or suppressing gene transcription. Many receptors require dimerisation (binding either another receptor of the same type, a different type or even a different protein). Some intracellular receptors also appear to interact with other signal transduction mechanisms.

Members

Transcription factors

• Steroid hormone receptor:
  • Sex hormone receptors (sex hormones)
    • Estrogen receptor (α and β)
    • Androgen receptor (one type)
  • Vitamin D receptor (vitamin D, one type)
  • Glucocorticoid receptor (glucocorticoids, one type)
  • Mineralocorticoid receptor (mineralocorticoids, one type)
• Thyroid hormone receptor (α and β)
• Retinoic acid receptor (vitamin A and related compounds);
• Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs, α, γ and δ)
• Retinoic x receptor
• Farnesoid x receptor
• Liver x receptor
• Pregnane x receptor
• Constitutive androstane receptor

Various

• sigma1 (neurosteroids))
• IP₃ receptor (inositol triphosphate, IP₃)

External links

• Nuclear Receptor journal homepage
• Nuclear receptor resource at Georgetown University
• Nuclear receptor signalling atlas (NURSA, open-access journal)

Intracellular receptors