Ah receptor

Ah receptor

A receptor that is detectable in many tissues and organs which binds various environmental pollutants, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, hetercyclic amines and polychlorinated aromatic compounds (e.g., dioxins, dibenzofurans and biphenyls), and mediates the well-known carcinogenic effects of these agents. Once bound via a helix-loop-helix motif and activated, the Ah receptor-ligand complex is transported to the nucleus where it binds to specific DNA sequences and variously turns genes on or off.