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Imprint
Identification of novel molecular biomarkers enabling reliable assessment of endocrine distruptor activity in-vitro
Project
Project code: BfR-PRS-08-1322-419
Contract period: 01.01.2009
- 31.12.2010
Purpose of research: Applied research
Steroid hormones like estrogens and androgens act via intracellular ligand-dependent transcription factors. Binding of the ligand results in homo- or heterodimerization of receptors and binding at specific DNA elements in genomic DNA. The conformational change induced by hormone binding leads to interaction with cofactors which in turn may lead to the repression or activation of the transcription of target genes. Endocrine disruptors or modulators are substances acting at different targets/pathways such as hormone synthesis and metabolism or they may directly bind to hormone receptors. This interaction may induce receptor-mediated toxicity in target organs and potentially could also lead to carcinogenic or adverse effects during development. In particular neonatal or in utero exposure is expected to induce developmental and reproductive disturbances. Endocrine disruptors represent a heterogeneous group of chemicals found in a broad variety of products such as plasticizers, UV screens or herbicides. To support and substantiate risk assessment of these compounds both in vitro and in vivo testing procedures are performed. Even if the identification of endocrine disrupting activity is successful via these assays, molecular mechanisms often remain ambiguous and far from being fully elucidated.
Section overview
Subjects
- Biotechnology
