Pregnane X receptor

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nuclear receptor subfamily 1, group I, member 2
Identifiers
Symbol	NR1I2
HUGO	7968
Entrez	8856
OMIM	603065
RefSeq	NM_003889
UniProt	O75469
Other data
Locus	Chr. 3 q13-q21

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In cell biology, the pregnane X receptor (PXR) is a nuclear receptor with activity similar to that seen in other steroid receptors such as estrogen or progesterone but more similar in form to PPAR, LXR, and RXR. PXR is activated by a large number of endogenous and exogenous chemicals including steroids, antibiotics, antimycotics, bile acids, and the herbal antidepressant St. John's Wort. Like other steroid receptors, when activated, it translocates to the cell nucleus, forms a dimer (in this case a heterodimer), and binds to hormone response elements on DNA which elicits expression or transrepression of gene products. One of the primary functions of PXR activation is the induction of CYP3A4, an important enzyme that is responsible for the metabolism of many drugs.