Oestrogen is a hormone that affects transcription. It forms a complex with a receptor in the cytoplasm of target cells. How does an activated oestrogen receptor influence transcription in the target cell?

Oestrogen is a hormone that affects transcription. It forms a complex with a receptor in the cytoplasm of target cells. How does an activated oestrogen receptor influence transcription in the target cell?

• A. It binds to the promoter and recruits RNA polymerase to initiate transcription.
• B. It degrades the promoter and stops transcription.
• C. It translates the mRNA into protein directly.
• D. It blocks the promoter to prevent transcription.

Answer: (A)

Activation of the estrogen receptor turns it into a sequence-specific transcription factor. When the oestrogen-bound receptor complex enters the nucleus, it binds to estrogen response elements near target genes and recruits coactivators and the transcriptional machinery, including RNA polymerase II, to the promoter. This assembly enables initiation of transcription, turning on gene expression in response to estrogen. It doesn’t degrade the promoter, translate mRNA directly, or block transcription; instead it promotes transcription by bringing in the machinery needed to start RNA synthesis.

Activation of the estrogen receptor turns it into a sequence-specific transcription factor. When the oestrogen-bound receptor complex enters the nucleus, it binds to estrogen response elements near target genes and recruits coactivators and the transcriptional machinery, including RNA polymerase II, to the promoter. This assembly enables initiation of transcription, turning on gene expression in response to estrogen. It doesn’t degrade the promoter, translate mRNA directly, or block transcription; instead it promotes transcription by bringing in the machinery needed to start RNA synthesis.