Abstract: Members of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily, including the peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor and the liver X receptor subfamilies, orchestrate transcriptional networks involved in the control of metabolism and the development of vascular disease. In addition to these well-characterized ligand-activated transcription factors, the nuclear receptor (NR) superfamily comprises many orphan receptors, whose ligands and physiological functions remain unknown. Among this group of orphan receptors is the NR4A subfamily, including Nur77 (NR4A1), Nurr1 (NR4A2), and NOR1 (NR4A3). These orphan NRs constitute an evolutionary ancient and highly conserved group of transcription factors. In contrast to other members of the superfamily, NR4A receptors function as ligand-independent transcription factors and immediate- or early-response genes, which are rapidly induced by a pleiotropy of environmental cues. Early functional studies have pointed to a critical role of NR4A receptors in regulating differentiati...
Publication Year: 2010
Publication Date: 2010-08-01
Language: en
Type: article
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