Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor and a member of the basic helix-loop-helix superfamily of DNA binding proteins. The ligand binding to the AhR initiates a sequence of events that include dimerization with the AhR nuclear translocater protein that results in a transcriptionally active receptor. Found in virtually all vertebrates, it is tested and found in a wide range of tissues. In mammalian tissue, AhR is most abundant in liver, kideny, lung, heart thymus, and placenta. The endogenous for the AhR is unknown but is believed to play a critical role in embryonic development and homeostasis.

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BIOMOL Research Laboratories, Inc., 5120 Butler Pike, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462. Tel: 800-9420430; Fax: 610-941-9252.