GLOSSARY

The steroid hormone response is the sequence of events from a steroid hormone’s entry into a target cell to its final effect; it is mainly genomic, slow (hours to days), and long-lasting, although rapid non-genomic effects also exist.

Stages of the Genomic Response

• The hormone dissociates from its carrier protein and diffuses across the plasma membrane.
• It binds its receptor in the cytoplasm (GR, AR) or nucleus (ER, PR).
• Heat shock proteins dissociate and the receptor dimerises.
• Translocation to the nucleus and binding to the HRE → transcription → mRNA → translation → new protein.
• Physiological effect (such as synthesis of enzymes, contractile proteins, or ion channels).

Non-Genomic (Rapid) Effects