类维生素A具有广泛的生物学功能。近来研究发现它还能调节胆固醇的运输、胆汁酸的合成以及胆固醇的吸收。这些发现说明存在着一种能控制胆固醇的新结构。核心激素受体是通过配体被激活的转录因子,亦为典型的激素或细胞代谢产物。这类受体中有许多已经得到证实,且被命名为“孤独受体”或X受体。最后,“孤独受体”可找到配体,其靶基因将得以检验,这些信息最终被储存进入一个总的代谢网络中。Repa.等人的论文紧紧围绕这个主题,并在证实受体和配体存在之 Vitamin A has a wide range of biological functions. Recent studies have found that it can also regulate cholesterol transport, bile acid synthesis and cholesterol absorption. These findings suggest that there is a new structure that controls cholesterol. Core hormone receptors are transcription factors that are activated by ligands and are also typical hormones or cellular metabolites. Many of these receptors have been validated and named “lone receptors” or X receptors. Finally, “lonel receptors” can find ligands whose target genes will be tested and which eventually are stored in a general metabolic network. Repa. Et al’s papers closely around this topic and demonstrate the existence of receptors and ligands