Physical and Functional Parameters of Isolated Estrogen Receptors

Abstract

The current view of estrogen receptor action is that these molecules, on binding estradiol at 37°C., undergo an activation that facilitates their association with specific DNA or DNA/chromatin complexes. Little is known at this time, however, as to the molecular nature of such interactions or, more specifically, the manner in which they modulate the expression of specific genes. Accordingly, the goal of this chapter is to draw attention to some little-studied properties of estrogen receptors—properties arising from their interactions with other common molecules which may play a role in their interactions with chromatin and are likely to influence the cascading genetic events.