Figure 1.

Schematic diagram of LXR/RXR activation mechanism (adapted from the references cited above). In the absence of a ligand, LXR/RXR heterodimers are bound to the LXREs in the promoter region of target genes and in complex with corepressors (SMRT or NCoR). Ligand binding (e.g., oxysterols) induces a dissociation of corepressors and recruitment of coactivators and the target gene expression is induced.