Final answer:
The most useful explanation for the production of new proteins when a steroid hormone enters liver cells is that a transcription factor activates multiple genes simultaneously, regulating cell processes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Regarding the observation that a steroid hormone entering liver cells causes the production of a variety of new proteins, the most useful explanation is that a transcription factor activates many genes at the same time. Steroid hormones, being lipid-soluble, easily diffuse through the cell membrane and bind to steroid hormone receptor proteins. Once the hormone binds to its receptor, forming a complex, it can enter the nucleus and interact with DNA regulatory elements, acting as a transcription regulator. This induces transcription of various genes, leading to the production of multiple proteins essential for altering cell processes such as metabolism, growth, or repair.
The observation that a steroid hormone entering liver cells prompts the production of numerous new proteins can be best explained by the activation of multiple genes simultaneously through a transcription factor. Steroid hormones, due to their lipid-soluble nature, readily diffuse through cell membranes and bind to specific receptor proteins. Upon hormone-receptor complex formation, it gains entry into the cell nucleus, where it interacts with DNA regulatory elements, acting as a transcriptional regulator. This activation of transcription factors induces the transcription of a variety of genes, leading to the synthesis of numerous proteins. These proteins play essential roles in modulating cellular processes such as metabolism, growth, or repair. The coordinated regulation of multiple genes allows steroid hormones to orchestrate complex and diverse cellular responses, highlighting their integral role in cellular physiology and homeostasis.