Question

Cortisol is a steroid stress hormone and can affect cellular metabolism. (This makes sense – under acute stress conditions, growth is stunted; under chronic intermittent stress conditions that characterize human society, weight gain is often observed.) How might it have that effect?  

Question 5 options:

A	altering ion channel opening
B	altering efficiency of ATP synthase
C	altering expression of metabolic enzymes by acting as a transcription factor
D	altering activity of metabolic enzymes by phosphorylating them

Answer 1

Answer C) altering expression of metabolic enzymes by acting as a transcription factor.

Steroid hormones, cortisol act as a messengers. They are able to cross the cytoplasmic membrane because of their fat-soluble properties. As, Cell membranes are composed of phospholipid bilayers; these prevent fat-insoluble molecules from passing through. Once cortisol passes through the cell membrane and enters into the cell, it binds to specific receptors in the cytoplasm. In the absence of cortisol, the glucocorticoid receptor binds to an Hsp90 (heat shock protein 90)chaperone protein in the cellular metabolism. cytosol. The binding of cortisol to the glucocorticoid receptor dissociates the Hsp90. The cortisol-receptor complex then enters the nucleus of the cell and affects gene transcription.Thus, it results in the cortisol release and thereby affecting the