From ligand to response: generating diversity in nuclear receptor coregulator function

Nuclear receptor ligands regulate diverse developmental and physiological p rocesses by activating intracellular members of the nuclear receptor superf amily. Activated nuclear receptors mediate the expression of distinct gene networks in vivo by an as yet unspecifed mechanism. Central to the process is the recruitment by these receptors of coactivators, a functionally diver sified set of factors shown to be required for efficient transcriptional re gulation by activated receptors. This article will highlight recent advance s in selected mechanistic aspects of receptor function, as well as discussi ng the potential of coactivators to act as mediators of the intricate pharm acology of nuclear receptor ligands. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.