Question

biochem

Most hormones, such as peptide hormones, exert their effects by binding to cell surface receptors. However, steroid hormones do so by binding to cytosolic receptors. How is this possible? Animals cannot synthesize linoleic acid (a precursor of arachidonic acid) and therefore must obtain this essential fatty acid from their diet. Explain why cultured animal cells can survive in the absence of linoleic acid.

Answer 1

15. Since these steroid hormones are fat soluble they eassily enter the cell through simple diffusion. After which they bind to their respective cytosolic receptor.

16. Some cultured animal cells survive in the absence of linoleic acid. It is because the cell media supplemented with serum also consist of essential fatty acids and also linoleic acid is a precursor for synthesis of endocrine hormone, in cell culture since there is no need for any endocrine hormone it can grow well even in the absence of it.