Final answer:
The process described is facilitated by intracellular hormone receptors, which allow lipid-soluble hormones like steroid and thyroid hormones to regulate gene expression by binding to specific receptors inside the target cell.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term you're looking for is intracellular hormone receptors. These receptors are found inside the target cell, where some hormones, such as steroid hormones, thyroid hormones, and nitric oxide, can bind after diffusing through the plasma membrane. Steroid hormones, including hormones like estrogen and testosterone, bind to transport proteins to remain soluble in the bloodstream and upon reaching the target cell, they diffuse through the cell membrane and bind to specific receptors inside the cell. This hormone-receptor complex then moves to the nucleus and regulates gene expression by acting as transcription regulators, which affects the synthesis of mRNA and subsequently protein synthesis altering the functioning of the cell.