Final answer:
Estrogen, a steroid hormone, diffuses through the cell membrane, binds to intracellular receptors, and triggers gene transcription that changes cell structure or function.
Step-by-step explanation:
When the steroid hormone estrogen binds to an intracellular receptor protein, a specific cellular response is initiated. The estrogen hormone diffuses across the plasma membrane of a target cell due to its lipid-soluble nature and binds with receptor proteins either in the cytoplasm or the nucleus. This hormone-receptor complex then translocates into the nucleus where it binds to DNA sequences known as hormone response elements (HREs). The binding to HREs triggers gene transcription, leading to the production of mRNA which is then translated into proteins that can alter cell structure or function, such as by catalyzing chemical reactions or changing gene expression that regulates cell processes.