Function
Progesterone receptor (PR) binds to DNA and inhibits transcription. It is nuclear receptor. The inhibition terminates when progesterone binds to PR. The ovarian steroid progesterone which is essential for breast development and reproductive behavior, is mediated by PR[1].
See also Intracellular receptors
Relevance
The response to hormone therapy in breast cancer correlates with PR. PR absence in breast tumor cells predicts resistance to hormone therapy [2]. Mometasone is a potent agonist of PR[3].
Structural highlights
The structure of the complex of the ligand-binding domain of PR with RU486 - an abortion-inducing drug - shows the ligand bound at a similar location to other agonists or partial agonists with a flexible loop of PR being a possible entry route to the [4]. Water molecules are shown as red spheres. (1a28).
