Steroid hormone receptors (SHR’s) are proteins that have binding sites for specific steroid molecules. Generally intracellular they are responsible for signalling steroid hormones implicated in gene expression.
SHR’s can be activated by binding of ligands. Agonistic or antagonistic ligands lead to different allosteric changes within the SHR enabling them to initiate positive or negative effects on gene expressions.
Well know SHR’s are members of the nuclear receptor family which includes 48 receptors for gonadal and adrenal steroids, non-steroidal ligands e.g. thyroid, vitamin D and fatty acids.