A
hormone response element (HRE) is a short sequence of
DNA within the
promoter of a gene, that is able to bind to a specific
hormone receptor complex and therefore regulate
transcription. The sequence is most commonly a pair of
inverted repeats separated by three nucleotides, which also indicates that the receptor binds as a
dimer. Specifically, HRE responds to steroid hormones, as the activated steroid receptor is the transcription factor binding HRE. This regulates the transcription of genes signalled by the steroid hormone. A gene may have many different response elements, allowing complex control to be exerted over the level and rate of transcription. HRE are used in
transgenic animal cells as
inducers of gene expression. Examples of HREs include estrogen response elements and androgen response elements. ==Examples==