Final answer:
Steroid hormones, such as vitamin D and thyroid hormones, diffuse across the target cell membrane to interact with DNA in the cell's nucleus. They bind to intracellular receptors and trigger the transcription of specific genes, influencing protein synthesis.
Step-by-step explanation:
Steroid hormones, such as vitamin D and thyroid hormones, diffuse across the target cell membrane and interact with DNA in the cell's nucleus. These hormones bind to intracellular receptors residing in the cytoplasm or in the nucleus. The hormone-receptor complex then moves toward the chromatin in the cell nucleus and binds to a specific segment of the DNA, triggering the transcription of target genes and ultimately affecting protein synthesis.