Steroid hormone → G protein-coupled receptor → cAMP → Nucleus
D
Steroid hormone → Ion channel → Mitochondria → Nucleus
Verified step by step guidance
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Step 1: Understand the nature of steroid hormones. Steroid hormones are lipid-soluble molecules derived from cholesterol. Because they are hydrophobic, they can easily pass through the lipid bilayer of the plasma membrane without requiring a membrane receptor.
Step 2: Recognize how steroid hormones interact with target cells. Once inside the cell, steroid hormones bind to specific intracellular receptors located in the cytoplasm or nucleus. These receptors are often referred to as cytoplasmic receptors.
Step 3: Learn about the hormone-receptor complex. After binding to the cytoplasmic receptor, the steroid hormone forms a hormone-receptor complex. This complex then translocates to the nucleus of the cell.
Step 4: Understand the role of the nucleus. Inside the nucleus, the hormone-receptor complex binds to specific DNA sequences, acting as a transcription factor to regulate gene expression. This leads to the production of specific proteins that mediate the hormone's effects.
Step 5: Compare the options provided. Based on the mechanism of steroid hormone action, the correct sequence is: 'Steroid hormone → Cytoplasmic receptor → Hormone-receptor complex → Nucleus.' The other options involve mechanisms more typical of peptide or protein hormones, which rely on membrane receptors and second messengers.