This gene encodes a member of the family of estrogen
receptors and superfamily of nuclear receptor transcription
factors. The gene product contains an N-terminal DNA binding domain
and C-terminal ligand binding domain and is localized to the
nucleus, cytoplasm, and mitochondria. Upon binding to
17beta-estradiol or related ligands, the encoded protein forms
homo- or hetero-dimers that interact with specific DNA sequences to
activate transcription. Some isoforms dominantly inhibit the
activity of other estrogen receptor family members. Several
alternatively spliced transcript variants of this gene have been
described, but the full-length nature of some of these variants has
not been fully characterized.
