Steroid hormone

Steroid hormones are made from cholesterol. Some examples include: cortisol, steroid sex hormones, vitamin D, progesterone, and the molting hormone ecdysone (in insects)^[1].

Steroid hormones bind to cytosolic receptors that act in the nucleus as opposed to the cell surface. The steroid hormone enters the target cell, binds to a specific receptor protein, and thereby regulates gene expression^[2].

References

1. ↑ Alberts, Johnson, Lewis, Raff, Roberts and Walter. (2008) 'Molecular Biology of the Cell' 5th Edition. New York: Garlands Science
2. ↑ Hardin, Bertoni, Kleinsmith. (2012). 'Becker's World of the Cell'. 8th Edition. San Francisco: Pearson Education