The nuclear receptor field: a historical overview and future challenges

Abstract

In this article we summarize the birth of the field of nuclear receptors, the discovery ofuntransformed and transformed isoforms of ligand-binding macromolecules, the discovery of thethree-domain structure of the receptors, and the properties of the Hsp90-based heterocomplexresponsible for the overall structure of the oligomeric receptor and many aspects of the biologicaleffects. The discovery and properties of the subfamily of receptors called orphan receptors is alsooutlined. Novel molecular aspects of the mechanism of action of nuclear receptors and challengesto resolve in the near future are discussed.