Lecture 3

Question 1

What are the types of lipid ligands

Answer 1

Steroids(hormones) derived from cholesterol, Cortisol, Aldosterone, Sex Hormones and, Neurosteroids

Question 2

How do intracellular receptors work

Answer 2

The ligand diffuses into the cell and binds to a receptor either in the cytoplasm or nucleus and then creates the receptor ligand complex. This causes a change in shape that activates the protein which acts typically on the DNA within the cell affecting either transcription of translation

Question 3

Explain the aldosterone intracellular activation pathway.

Answer 3

The intracellular receptor enters the cell and binds to the mineralocorticoid receptor forming a receptor ligand complex. The complex translocates into the nucleus and upregulates synthesis of proteins involved in sodium uptake and water absorption. Eg. Na+/K+ pump and ENaC’s Proteins are made via this pathway