| Primary Identifier | IPR042153 | Type | Domain |
| Short Name | DBD_VDR |
| description | This entry represents the DNA-binding domain of vitamin D receptors (VDR). It is composed of two C4-type zinc fingers. Each zinc finger contains a group of four Cys residues which coordinates a single zinc atom. VDR interacts with a VDR response element, a direct repeat of GGTTCA DNA site with 3 bp spacer upstream of the target gene, and modulates the rate of transcriptional initiation []. VDR is a member of the nuclear receptor (NR) superfamily that functions as classical endocrine receptors. VDR controls a wide range of biological activities including calcium metabolism, cell proliferation and differentiation, and immunomodulation. VDR is a high-affinity receptor for the biologically most active Vitamin D metabolite, 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1alpha,25(OH)2D3) []. The binding of the ligand to the receptor induces a conformational change of the ligand binding domain (LBD) with consequent dissociation of corepressors. Upon ligand binding, VDR forms a heterodimer with the retinoid X receptor (RXR) that binds to vitamin D response elements (VDREs), recruits coactivators. This leads to the expression of a large number of genes. Approximately 200 human genes are considered to be primary targets of VDR and even more genes are regulated indirectly []. Like other members of the nuclear receptor (NR) superfamily of ligand-activated transcription factors, VDR has a central well conserved DNA binding domain (DBD) [], a variable N-terminal domain, a flexible hinge and a C-terminal ligand binding domain (LBD) [, ]. |
