Intracellular receptors are globular proteinreceptors located inside thecell rather than on itscell membrane. The wordintracellular means "within or inside a cell." Molecules that cross a cell membrane to bind with a receptor are generallynonpolar and may be relatively small. These molecules are also known asligands, these trigger how genes are turned on or off which are essential for processes like growth metabolism etc. Hormones that use intracellular receptors includethyroid,aldosterone, andsteroid hormones.[1]
The process starts when a signaling molecule like hormones and binds to a specific receptor.
Binding: the molecule(hormone) bind to the intracellular receptor which changes its shape (induced-fit mechanism) and activates it.
Activation: the intracellular receptor moves to the nucleus if it wasn’t already in the nucleus.
DNA binding: the activated intracellular receptor binds to a specific part of the DNA called a hormone response element (HRE).
Gene regulation: the intracellular receptor either turns on or turns off the target gene which affects the production of proteins that control bodily processes
