Functional genomic analysis of non-canonical DNA regulatory elements of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor.

ABSTRACT: The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a ligand-dependent transcription factor activated by environmental toxicants like halogenated and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which then binds to DNA and regulates gene expression. AHR is implicated in numerous physiological processes, including liver and immune function, cell cycle control, oncogenesis, and metabolism. Traditionally, AHR binds a consensus DNA sequence (GCGTG), the xenobiotic response element (XRE), recruits coregulators, and modulates gene expression. Yet, recent evidence suggests AHR can also regulate gene expression via a non-consensus sequence (GGGA), termed the non-consensus XRE (NC-XRE). The prevalence and functional significance of NC-XRE motifs in the genome have remained unclear. Although chromatin immunoprecipitation (

SUBMITTER: Shahriar S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12863213 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature