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W W Chin

Publications and source records attributed to W W Chin.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

In vivo regulation of FSH synthesis by inhibin and activin.

The effect of a single sc injection of the gonadal peptide, recombinant human activin A (rhActivin A), on gonadotropin synthesis and secretion was examined in adult and immature male and female rats and the effect of recombinant human inhibin A (rhInhibin A) was examined in adult male rats. Pituitary FSH beta, LH beta and alpha messenger RNA (mRNA) levels were determined by blot hybridization. Trunk blood was collected to measure serum FSH levels. Treatment with rhInhibin A (100 micrograms/kg) resulted in a decrease in FSH beta mRNA to 2% of controls levels 6 h after injection. FSH beta mRNA levels started to rebound at 10 h, but were still significantly lower than vehicle-treated controls. Serum FSH levels were significantly reduced at 2 h and were reduced further at 6 and 10 h. There were no significant changes in alpha and LH beta mRNA levels. RhActivin A, at the highest dose (500 micrograms/kg), in immature male rats had only a modest effect (1.2- and 1.3-fold increase) on FSH beta mRNA levels and FSH secretion, respectively, at 2 h. No increase in FSH synthesis and FSH secretion was observed in adult male rats. In contrast, both immature and adult-ovariectomized E2 implanted females showed a robust response to rhActivin A. In immature females, 2 h after rhActivin A (100 and 500 micrograms/kg) administration, FSH beta mRNA levels were elevated 2.0- and 2.2-fold. At this time serum FSH was also elevated. At 6 and 10 h rhActivin A significantly reduced FSH beta mRNA levels from vehicle-treated controls. In contrast, FSH secretion was elevated at 6 h and returned to baseline at 10 h. Administration of rhActivin A (500 micrograms/kg) to adult, ovariectomized-E2 females resulted in a significant increase in FSH beta mRNA levels and FSH secretion at 2 and 6 h. There were no significant changes in alpha and LH beta mRNA levels in either males or females. Thus, these in vivo studies have shown that rhInhibin A can inhibit FSH beta mRNA levels and FSH secretion in the adult male rat. RhActivin A stimulates FSH synthesis and secretion in the immature and adult ovariectomized-E2 females, but has little or no effect in immature and adult males. Hence, there is a sexual dimorphic response to rhActivin A in vivo in the rat.

Activins↗

Basal and thyroid hormone receptor auxiliary protein-enhanced binding of thyroid hormone receptor isoforms to native thyroid hormone response elements.

There are three known isoforms of the rat thyroid hormone receptor, TR alpha-1, TR beta-1, and TR beta-2. The first two are expressed in all tissues, whereas TR beta-2 appears to be expressed only in the pituitary. The differences in the roles of the three receptor isoforms are unknown, but may involve preferential interaction with different subsets of thyroid hormone-regulated genes in different tissues. We tested the binding of the three TR isoforms to putative thyroid hormone response elements (TREs) from genes that are expressed in the pituitary or other tissues and are regulated by thyroid hormone. In vitro translated 35S-labeled rat TR alpha-1, rat TR beta-2, and human TR beta-1 receptors were bound to a battery of biotinylated synthetic deoxyribonucleotides containing naturally occurring putative TREs from genes expressed either in only pituitary (rat glycoprotein hormone alpha-subunit, TSH beta-subunit, and GH) or in nonpituitary (rat alpha-myosin heavy chain, malic enzyme, and Moloney murine leukemia virus promoter) tissues. All three receptor forms bound to each of the TREs. TR beta-2 did not show preferential binding to TREs of pituitary-specific genes compared to TR beta-1. Additionally, TR alpha-1 had a similar TRE-binding pattern as the TR beta s, except for possibly less binding to rat glycoprotein hormone alpha-subunit TRE. Finally, rat pituitary and liver nuclear extracts enhanced TR binding to TREs, with the greatest enhancement seen with the alpha-subunit TRE. These studies suggest that all TR isoforms bind similarly to native TREs. Also, TR binding to TREs can be differentially enhanced by interactions with nuclear proteins.

Animals↗

3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3) receptor-auxiliary protein (TRAP) binds DNA and forms heterodimers with the T3 receptor.

Nuclear factors enhance binding of T3 receptors (TR) to DNA, suggesting that T3 action may require a multicomponent complex bound to thyroid hormone response elements (TREs). We refer to the 65,000 Da nuclear protein in GH3 cells that enhances TR binding to DNA as the TR-auxiliary protein (TRAP) and have characterized its interaction with TR. Using a TRE-DNA affinity matrix we show that TRAP is able to bind to DNA, even in the absence of functional TR. We then used carboxyl-terminal truncations of rat TR alpha-1 and human TR beta in the avidin-biotin complex DNA-binding assay to identify regions that are important for interaction with TRAP. Removal of 34 residues of hTR beta abolishes T3-binding activity, but the ability to bind TRAP is retained. Further truncations and point mutations suggest that TRAP interacts with the ligand-binding domain of TR and with an independent region which overlaps a conserved sequence adjacent to the second Zn2+ finger (amino acids 120-149 in rTR alpha-1). A fragment of rTR alpha-1 (alpha C291) which encompasses these two regions inhibits the ability of TRAP to enhance TR binding to DNA. This is due to binding of alpha C291 to TR, demonstrating the ability of TR to form homodimers. The inability of TRAP to interact with TR dimers and the similarity of the locations of the estradiol receptor dimerization domains with the TRAP interaction regions lead us to conclude that TRAP stabilizes TR binding to DNA by formation of TRAP-TR heterodimers with both proteins bound to the DNA. TR bound to the estrogen response element is unable to respond to TRAP and unable to stimulate transcription, possibly due to the absence of TRAP in the TR-estrogen response element complex. In addition, TRAP may interact with a certain subset of the nuclear receptor superfamily, since human retinoic acid receptor-beta and vitamin D receptor show increased binding to TREs in the presence of nuclear extract, but c-erbA alpha-2, a variant TR, does not respond to TRAP.

Animals↗

3,5,3'-triiodothyronine receptor auxiliary protein (TRAP) enhances receptor binding by interactions within the thyroid hormone response element.

We have previously demonstrated that binding of in vitro synthesized thyroid hormone receptor (TR) to thyroid hormone response elements (TREs) is enhanced by the addition of nuclear extracts from several different cell types, suggesting that binding of TR is partially dependent on a T3 receptor auxiliary protein (TRAP). We have used the avidin-biotin complex DNA-binding assay to discriminate between regions of TREs that bind TR alone and sites that are influenced by interactions with TRAP. Mutations in the TREs from rat GH and glycoprotein hormone alpha-subunit genes show that a specific DNA sequence is required for TRAP-mediated enhancement of TR binding. Mutations in the B half-site of the rat GH TRE or in similar sequences [(T/A)GGGA] in the alpha-subunit TRE ablate the enhancement of TR binding by TRAP. Furthermore, binding of TR to a natural half-site in the TSH beta-subunit gene (bases -16 to 6), which lacks an additional AGGGA-like sequence, is not enhanced by the addition of TRAP. Binding of TR to TREs was also tested at physiological salt concentrations in the avidin-biotin complex DNA-binding assay. Binding of human TR beta to TREs decreases dramatically at 140 mM KCl compared to binding at 50 mM KCl; however, the addition of TRAP enhances the binding to almost 4-fold of basal binding, suggesting that TRAP may be important for stabilization of TR binding to TREs in the cell.

Animals↗

Thyroid hormone decreases the stability and the poly(A) tract length of rat thyrotropin beta-subunit messenger RNA.

Thyroid hormone (T3 and T4) down-regulation of TSH subunit steady state mRNA levels and subunit gene transcription in vitro and in vivo has been well studied. We present evidence here that T3 can also regulate the turnover of TSH subunit mRNA. The apparent half-life of the TSH beta-subunit mRNA was determined by adding actinomycin-D (2 microM) to dispersed rat pituitary cultures in hypothyroid medium or medium containing 10(-7) M T3 and analyzing the decline in subunit mRNA levels with time. The half-life of the TSH beta mRNA from those cultures treated with T3 was shorter than that of the control cultures (9 vs. greater than 24 h, respectively). A possible mechanism by which TSH beta-subunit mRNA stability is altered is through a change in the size of each mRNA's poly(A) tail. Northern blot analysis of total RNA from the above cultures revealed that T3 treatment reduces the size of the TSH beta-subunit mRNA. To determine if this alteration of mRNA size was due to a loss of a portion of the poly(A) tract and not to alternative splicing of the transcript or use of a secondary transcriptional start site, pooled RNAs were hybridized with oligo(dT) and subsequently digested with RNAse-H to remove the poly(A) tract. RNA blot analysis of these RNAs showed that T3 treatment results in the loss of most of the TSH beta poly(A) tail.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Gene expression from the c-erbA alpha/Rev-ErbA alpha genomic locus. Potential regulation of alternative splicing by opposite strand transcription.

Alternative splicing of the c-erbA alpha gene transcript generates mRNAs encoding a thyroid hormone (T3) receptor (alpha 1) and a non-T3-binding variant (alpha 2). Also encoded at this genomic locus is Rev-ErbA alpha (Rev), a non-T3-binding member of the T3/steroid hormone receptor family. The DNA strand coding for Rev is opposite of that encoding the c-erbA alpha proteins, such that bidirectional transcription is required to generate the Rev and alpha 2 mRNAs. We have used cycloheximide as a tool for studying the regulation of gene expression from this complex genomic locus. In 235-1 cells cycloheximide treatment increased Rev mRNA levels by 50-100-fold. The effect was detectable after a 1-2-h incubation with 20 micrograms/ml cycloheximide and maximal at 24 h. The cycloheximide-induced increase in Rev gene expression was due to inhibition of protein synthesis since anisomycin caused a similar induction of Rev mRNA. Nuclear run-on assays revealed an approximately 10-fold increase in the transcriptional rate of the Rev gene during cycloheximide treatment. In addition, cycloheximide stabilized the Rev mRNA, as evidenced by half-life determinations in the presence of actinomycin D (5 ng/ml). Thus, labile proteins repress basal Rev gene expression both transcriptionally and post-transcriptionally. Cycloheximide treatment also increased alpha 1 and decreased alpha 2 mRNA levels, with the alpha 1/alpha 2 ratio increasing approximately 10-fold. Interestingly, however, these effects appeared not to be due to changes in rates of transcription or degradation of either mRNA. A likely alternative, given the structure of the c-erbA alpha gene, is that inhibition of protein synthesis resulted in a change in the c-erbA alpha splicing pattern. We hypothesize that this may be causally related to the accumulation of Rev mRNA (or the nascent Rev gene transcript), which could inhibit splicing to alpha 2 by hybridizing to complementary sequences, favoring alpha 1 mRNA production. Since alpha 1 is a T3 receptor whereas alpha 2 is an inhibitor of T3 action, such changes could influence target cell responsiveness to T3.

Cell Line↗

A nuclear factor that enhances binding of thyroid hormone receptors to thyroid hormone response elements.

Recent studies from this laboratory have demonstrated the presence of thyroid hormone response elements (TREs) in the 5'-flanking region of the rat alpha and TSH beta subunit genes. Using an avidin-biotin complex DNA binding assay, we have shown that these TREs bind the thyroid hormone (T3) receptor present in nuclear extracts of GH3 cells, as well as the in vitro synthesized Hc-erbA beta, which has been identified as a member of the family of T3 receptors. The binding of Hc-erbA beta to the alpha subunit TRE can be enhanced 3-4-fold by including GH3 nuclear extract in the binding assay. Binding to the TRE present in the TSH beta gene or the rat growth hormone gene was similarly enhanced, although to a lesser degree. The enhanced binding activity is trypsin-sensitive and heat labile, and is not reproduced by the addition of histones, bovine serum albumin, or cytosol instead of nuclear extract. Gel exclusion chromatography suggests a molecular size of approximately 65,000 Da. This protein, which is present in several different cell types, is also able to complement binding of the rat erbA alpha-1 and the pituitary-specific erbA beta-2 forms of the receptor. These data suggest that the binding of the T3 receptor to a TRE is augmented by another nuclear protein, which may be involved in the mechanism of action of thyroid hormone.

Animals↗

Combined use of immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization to study beta thyroid-stimulating hormone gene expression in pituitaries of hypothyroid rats.

Immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization were used to demonstrate beta thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) immunoreactivity and beta TSH messenger RNA (mRNA) in the same tissue section of rat pituitary. Sections (10 micronsP of 4% paraformaldehyde-fixed pituitaries from surgically thyroidectomized and intact male rats were first hybridized with a 32P-labelled complementary RNA beta TSH probe and were then immunostained for beta TSH. In both sets of animals beta TSH mRNA and beta TSH immunoreactivity were simultaneously localized to many thyrotrophs, although there was considerable heterogeneity in mRNA labelling intensity between individual cells. In hypothyroid rats more cells were positive with both probe and antiserum, and the intensity of mRNA labelling in most quantified by direct apposition of hybridized sections to autoradiography film, and the image grey levels were measured using an image analyser to convert them into equivalent amounts of radioactivity. In hypothyroid rats this amount was 22 times greater than in controls (control 4.77 +/- 0.84 attomoles mm-2; hypothyroid 107.06 +/- 14.2 attomoles mm-2; mean +/- SEM p less than 0.001). In situ hybridization has been used in combination with immunocytochemistry, to demonstrate beta TSH and mRNA and immunoreactivity at a cellular level in rats with different thyroid status.

Animals↗

Isolation of a cDNA encoding human Rev-ErbA alpha: transcription from the noncoding DNA strand of a thyroid hormone receptor gene results in a related protein that does not bind thyroid hormone.

A cDNA encoding Rev-ErbA alpha, a member of the thyroid/steroid hormone receptor superfamily, has been isolated from a human fetal skeletal muscle library. This cDNA contains 269 consecutive base pairs identical to a region of a human c-erbA alpha-2 cDNA, but the respective long open reading frames utilize this nucleotide sequence in opposite orientations. Thus, human Rev-ErbA alpha (hRev) is derived from opposite-strand transcription of the c-erbA alpha genomic locus. mRNA encoding hRev was detected in human skeletal muscle by Northern analysis. Comparison of hRev and Rev-ErbA (rRev) reveals 99% identity in the putative DNA-binding and "ligand-binding" (carboxy-terminal) domains. hRev does not bind thyroid hormone (T3), as has also been found for its rat homolog. Interestingly, the human and rat Rev-ErbA alpha cDNAs are dissimilar at their 5' ends, corresponding to the first exon that we have identified in the rat gene. The conservation of the bidirectionally transcribed regions of c-erbA alpha-2 and Rev-ErbA alpha in human and rat suggests that this unusual genomic arrangement has an important function, perhaps related to the regulation of gene expression.

Base Sequence↗

Divergent regulation of gonadotropin subunit mRNA levels by androgens in the female rat.

To examine the effects of gonadal steroids on the pretranslational regulation of the gonadotropin subunits in the female, adult female rats, beginning 7 or 28 days after ovariectomy, received daily injections of testosterone propionate (T), dihydrotestosterone propionate (D), or estradiol benzoate (E) for 7 days. Intact cycling females and ovariectomized rats that received vehicle served as controls. Serum was obtained for LH and FSH levels to assess changes in gonadotropin secretion. Total RNA from individual rats was recovered and analyzed by blot hybridization with specific radiolabeled cDNA probes for the alpha, LH beta, and FSH beta subunits. Autoradiographic bands were quantitated and standardized to mRNA levels in the intact animals. Ovariectomy resulted in a rise in serum gonadotropin levels and all three gonadotropin subunit mRNA levels. Estrogen replacement resulted in suppression of alpha, LH beta, and FSH beta mRNAs whether given at 7 or 28 days after ovariectomy. In contrast, whereas androgen replacement decreased alpha and LH beta mRNAs, D or T did not consistently suppress FSH beta mRNAs. We conclude that chronic estrogen administration to the castrated female rat uniformly suppresses all three gonadotropin subunit mRNA levels. In female rats, as in male rats, chronic androgen administration fails to negatively regulate FSH beta mRNAs.

Androgens↗

Differential and tissue-specific regulation of the multiple rat c-erbA messenger RNA species by thyroid hormone.

Thyroid hormone (T3) has been shown to regulate the level of its receptor in a number of tissues and cell lines. Recently, proteins encoded by the protooncogene c-erbA have been identified as T3 receptors. In the rat, four c-erbA gene products have been isolated, three of which, r-erbA alpha-1, r-erbA beta-1, and r-erbA beta-2, encode biologically active T3 receptors; the fourth, r-erbA alpha-2, may play an inhibitory role in T3 action. The present work examines the molecular nature of T3 receptor autoregulation using probes specific for each c-erbA mRNA. Rats were rendered hypothyroid with propylthiouracil and then treated with either saline or T3. Northern blot analyses reveal marked tissue-specific and differential regulation of the multiple c-erbA mRNAs by T3. In the pituitary the levels of r-erbA beta-1 mRNA increase, whereas the levels of the pituitary-specific r-erbA beta-2 mRNA decrease with T3 treatment. In heart, kidney, liver, and brain the levels of r-erbA beta-1 are unaffected by thyroidal status. The levels of both r-erbA alpha mRNAs decrease with T3 treatment in all tissues examined except for the brain, where there is no change. In addition, we find that changes in the mRNAs encoding specific subpopulations of T3 receptors do not always parallel changes in total nuclear T3 binding. Differential regulation of the specific c-erbA mRNA species could have important consequences for T3 action.

Animals↗

Castration induces time-dependent changes in the follicle-stimulating hormone beta-subunit messenger ribonucleic acid-containing gonadotrope cell population.

We have previously observed 3- to 10-fold increases in pituitary LH beta-subunit mRNA levels in the rat 28 days after castration. These changes correlate with increases in percentages and areas of cells that bear the LH beta mRNA and with the amount of label for mRNA per cell. In contrast, FSH beta mRNA levels increase 2.5- to 4-fold 7-14 days after castration, decline to near-intact levels 28 days postcastration, and rise 4.5-fold by 96 days postcastration. The purpose of this study was to determine morphological correlates of these changes in FSH beta mRNA levels. Dispersed pituitary cells from intact and castrated rats were analyzed for FSH beta and LH beta mRNAs and protein by in situ hybridization techniques and immunocytochemistry, respectively. In intact animals over 79% of pituitary cells labeled for FSH beta mRNA were small (area less than 150 microns 2). However, 7 days after castration, the average area of labeled cells increased 4-fold (80% were over 200 microns 2 in area), without a significant change in percentages of FSH beta mRNA-containing cells. The amount of mRNA per cell (as measured by area of label per cell) increased 6-fold. Fourteen days after castration, the average area of cells containing FSH beta mRNA decreased to 2 times that in intact rats (48% were greater than 200 microns 2). The percentage of labeled cells increased from 11% (intact) to 20%. Furthermore, the dual labeling studies showed that 37% of these FSH cells were monohormonal (detected by FSH beta mRNA, but not LH beta antigen) compared with 23% in intact rats. At this same time, the FSH cells exhibited a decrease in the amount of mRNA per cell. In 21- to 84-day castrates, average areas of FSH beta mRNA remained at 2-2.5 times the areas of cells from intact rats. In addition, 21 days after surgery the percentages of labeled cells and amount of FSH beta mRNA per cell declined to those in intact rats. A greater proportion was multihormonal (only 15% expressed FSH beta mRNA but not LH beta antigens). At 84 days there were 2-fold increases in the percentages of labeled cells and the density of label, which correlate with the recovery in mRNA levels assayed at 96 days. Thus, factors that contribute to the early rise in FSH beta mRNA include increases in the amount of mRNA per cell, which coincides with increased cell area.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

Estrogen increases galanin immunoreactivity in hyperplastic prolactin-secreting cells in Fisher 344 rats.

Galanin is a widely distributed regulatory peptide which modulates the pituitary secretion of PRL and GH. Estrogen administration strongly stimulates galanin gene expression in the rat anterior pituitary. In adult female Fischer 344 rats, estrogen also induces hyperplasia of lactotropes. We used immunocytochemical analysis to assess the effects of estrogen on galanin-like immunoreactivity (Gal-IR) in the rat pituitary and hypothalamus during sc diethylstilbestrol (DES) implantation and after its removal at 30 days. In the anterior pituitary, DES implantation increased the portion of Gal-IR-containing cells from less than 2% in the control rats to 18.3% after 3 days of DES and 36% after 30 days. These changes paralleled the lactotrope hyperplasia exhibited in response to DES exposure. Ten and 30 days after removal of the DES capsules, the percentage of Gal-IR-containing cells in the anterior pituitary decreased to 6.3% and 1.5%, respectively. Colocalization studies revealed that Gal-IR-containing cells were predominantly lactotropes. Immunoelectron microscopy demonstrated that Gal-IR was concentrated in the Golgi region of these hyperplastic lactotropes and suggests that little of the synthesized galanin is secreted. The distribution of Gal-IR in the hypothalamus, median eminence, and neurohypophysis was unaffected by DES treatment. These data demonstrate that galanin is synthesized by hyperplastic pituitary lactotropes of Fischer 344 rats and that peptide accumulation is dependent on the presence of circulating estrogens. In contrast, neuronal galanin synthesis in the hypothalamus does not appear to be regulated by estrogen.

Animals↗

Androgens positively regulate follicle-stimulating hormone beta-subunit mRNA levels in rat pituitary cells.

We have shown previously that androgens negatively regulate LH alpha and beta-subunit mRNA levels, but have little or no effect on FSH beta mRNA levels in rats in vivo. In contrast, estrogen negatively regulates all three gonadotropin subunit mRNA levels in vivo. We have examined the effects of these sex steroids on gonadotropin subunit synthesis directly at the level of the pituitary gland by using cultured rat pituitary cells. Adult female and male rat pituitaries were dissected, dispersed enzymatically, and maintained in culture for 2 days. At that time, cells were treated for varying lengths of time with either medium alone or sex-steroid hormone treatments (estradiol or testosterone). Dose-response and time-course experiments were performed. Cells were then harvested and total RNA was extracted. Gonadotropin subunit mRNA levels were assessed by blot hybridization techniques. Sex-steroid hormones were added to achieve final concentrations ranging from 10(-12) to 10(-6) M for dose response experiments and 10(-8) M for time-course experiments. Testosterone treatment (10(-8) M) increased FSH beta mRNA levels 3-fold in females (P less than 0.01) and males (P less than 0.05), but had no effect on alpha or LH beta mRNA levels in either sex. Dose-related increases in FSH beta mRNA levels with increasing concentrations of testosterone were observed in both female and male pituitary cell cultures. Time-course studies revealed that the testosterone-stimulated increases in FSH beta mRNA levels are statistically significant by 12 h and 6 h after hormone addition in female and male cultures, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Androgens↗

Thyroid hormone regulation of the rat glycoprotein hormone alpha-subunit gene promoter activity.

An important physiological control of the glycoprotein hormone alpha-subunit is the negative feedback by thyroid hormones in the thyrotrope. A region of the rat glycoprotein hormone alpha-subunit gene that is involved in transcriptional regulation by thyroid hormone has been identified by transient transfection studies, and sequence-specific binding of the thyroid hormone receptor to a site within this region has been demonstrated. Deletion-mutation studies using plasmid expression vectors containing either 246, 170, or 80 base pairs of the 5'-flanking region of the rat alpha-subunit gene fused to the coding region of the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene demonstrate 3,5,3'-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3)-regulated expression in GH3 cells, a T3-responsive somatotrophic cell line. In order to investigate the possibility of thyroid hormone receptor interaction with this segment of the rat alpha-subunit gene, the binding of the thyroid hormone receptor to synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides was analyzed using an avidin-biotin complex DNA binding assay. An oligodeoxyribonucleotide representing a fragment of the alpha-subunit gene from -74 to -38, relative to the transcriptional start site, shows significant binding to [125I]T3-receptor complex present in nuclear extracts of GH3 cells. This fragment binds receptor to a degree similar to that seen with a fragment of the rat growth hormone gene which contains a putative thyroid hormone-responsive element. In addition, this fragment of the rat alpha-subunit gene binds to the in vitro synthesized human c-erbA beta protein, which has been identified as a member of the family of putative T3 receptors. These data demonstrate that a cis-active thyroid hormone-responsive element resides in the 5'-flanking region of the rat alpha-subunit gene and that the mechanism involved in the suppression of expression of this gene by T3 could involve specific binding of the thyroid hormone receptor to this region of the gene.

Animals↗