Final answer:
The estrogen-receptor complex binds to zinc-finger transcription factor proteins, triggering gene transcription by attaching to hormone response elements in DNA. These events are critical in regulating gene expression by either activating or repressing specific genes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The estrogen-receptor complex binds to zinc-finger transcription factor proteins. This interaction causes nearby genes of DNA to become active by binding to a DNA sequence called a hormone response element (HRE), which triggers gene transcription and translation. The receptors, which include glucocorticoids, estrogens, androgens, thyroid hormone, calcitriol, and retinoids, are soluble proteins that function through gene activation. They are part of a large family of nuclear receptors that function as hormone-activated transcription factors, thus modulating gene expression.
The binding of the steroid hormone to its receptor is crucial for turning genes on or off. This process involves the hormone crossing the plasma membrane and sometimes the nuclear envelope, to access the receptor that may already be present in the nucleus of the cell. Upon hormone binding, these receptors can activate or repress the genes controlled by the promoter to which they bind.