Hormone response element

A hormone response element (HRE) is a short sequence of DNA within the promoter of a gene that is able to bind a specific hormone receptor complex and therefore regulate transcription.^[1] The sequence is most commonly a pair of inverted repeats separated by three nucleotides, which also indicates that the receptor binds as a dimer. Specifically, HRE responds to steroid hormones, as the activated steroid receptor is the transcription factor binding HRE. This regulates the transcription of genes signaled by the steroid hormone.

A gene may have many different response elements, allowing complex control to be exerted over the level and rate of transcription.^[2]

HRE are used in transgenic animal cells as inducers of gene expression.

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