Question

Why do steroids take so long to generate change when they bind to intracellular receptors?

1) The intracellular receptors have very slow kinetics.
2) The bound receptors affect gene transcription rates.
3) The steroid receptor complex activates signal transduction pathways.
4) The steroid receptor complex must then exit the cell to exert its effects.

Answer 1

Steroids bind to intracellular receptors and affect gene transcription, leading to mRNA synthesis and protein production. This complex process of gene regulation takes time, which is why steroid-induced changes are not immediate.

Step-by-step explanation:

Steroids generate change by binding to intracellular receptors, a process that affects gene transcription within the cell's nucleus. Upon entering the target cell, steroids pass through the plasma membrane and bind to specific receptors that may be located in the cytoplasm or in the nucleus. The steroid-receptor complex then interacts with DNA to modulate the transcription of specific genes. This process involves the synthesis of mRNA and subsequently the production of proteins that affect various cellular functions. These events do not occur instantaneously since they involve gene regulation, requiring transcription and translation before changes in cell function can be observed. This explains why steroids take a while to exert their effects compared to other signaling molecules that may work through faster mechanisms such as second messenger systems.