Nuclear Receptors
The study of the cell nucleus and nuclear events has been necessary for understanding a number of processes of primary importance in cell biology, including chromatin structure, transcriptional regulation of gene expression, RNA synthesis and processing, mechanism and regulation of bi-directional nuclear transport, and nuclear apoptosis.
The nuclear receptor (NR) family contains a large group of transcription factors, with 49 members presently identified in the human genome. The activity of most nuclear receptors is mediated by the binding of small lipophilic ligands such as steroid and thyroid hormones, vitamins, bile acids, fatty acids, and retinoids. Nuclear receptors regulate transcription by binding to response elements in the regulatory regions of target genes that control cell differentiation and growth, lipid homeostasis, and insulin sensitivity. Consequently, nuclear receptors are important drug targets for a number of different diseases.
The faithful replication of the genome is essential for the survival of all organisms. Numerous mechanisms have evolved to ensure that duplication of the genome occurs with only minimal risk of mutation induction. The function of helicase is to couple ATP hydroysis with the unwinding of duplex DNA at the replication fork and consequently, helicases are essential for the maintenance of genome stability. Integrase however, is responsible for the integration of proviral DNA into the host genome, which is essential for HIV replication. Integrase therefore, remains a promising potential target for new anti-HIV therapeutics.
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