Corepressors, nuclear receptors, and epigenetic factors on DNA: A tail of repression

Summary The differential exposure to circulating steroid hormones during brain development can have lasting consequences on brain function and behavior; therefore, the tight control of steroid hormone action within the developing brain is necessary for the expression of appropriate sex-typical behavior patterns later in life. The restricted control of steroid hormone action at the level of the DNA can be accomplished through the recruitment of coregulatory complexes. Nuclear receptor action can either be enhanced by the recruitment of coactivator complexes or suppressed by the formation of corepressor complexes. Alternatively, the regulation of nuclear receptor-mediated gene transcription in the developing brain may involve a dynamic process of coactivator and corepressor function on DNA. It is likely that understanding how different combinations of coregulatory matrixes assembly on DNA will lead to further understanding of heterogeneous responses to nuclear receptor activation. We will discuss how coregulators influence gene transcription and repression, the role of chromatin-binding factors in the regulation of gene transcription, and their potential impact on brain development.