Nuclear receptor coactivators (NCOAs) and corepressors (NCORs) in the brain

Abstract

Nuclear receptor coactivators (NCOAs) and corepressors (NCORs) bind to nuclear hormone receptors in a ligand-dependent manner and mediate the transcriptional activation or repression of the downstream target genes in response to hormones, metabolites, xenobiotics, and drugs. NCOAs and NCORs are widely expressed in the mammalian brain. Studies using genetic animal models started to reveal pivotal roles of NCOAs/NCORs in the brain in regulating hormonal signaling, sexual behaviors, consummatory behaviors, exploratory and locomotor behaviors, moods, learning, and memory. Genetic variants of NCOAs or NCORs have begun to emerge from human patients with obesity, hormonal disruption, intellectual disability, or autism spectrum disorders. Here we review recent studies that shed light on the function of NCOAs and NCORs in the central nervous system.