Gene expression natural regulation

While many hormones bind to surface receptors the steroid hormones, which are lipid in nature, pass through the cell membrane and bind to receptor proteins in the nucleus. The resulting hormone-protein complexes induce changes in gene expression through regulation of transcription (Fig. 11-1, top). These receptors are considered in Chapter 22 and hormones are considered further in Chapter 30. 

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Bedo, G., Santisteban, P., and Aranda, A., Retinoic acid regulates growth hormone gene expression, Nature, 339(6221], 231, 1989. 

Johnson, W. A., and Hirsh, J. (1990). A Drosophila POU, protein binds to a sequence element regulating gene expression in specific dopaminergic neurons. Nature 343 467-470. 

Binding results in the blocking of translation of the mRNA, and hence prevents synthesis of, the mature gene s protein product. Indeed, certain microorganisms appear to synthesize antisense molecules naturally as a means of regulating gene expression. 

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