FORURENS: Nuclear receptor targets for endocrine disrupting effects - mechanisms of action for emerging pollutants?

This project aims to further elucidate the role of nuclear receptors in the mechanisms of action of known and emerging environmental pollutants. We want to explore the hypothesis that dose-dependent routing and cross-talk between different nuclear recepto rs may determine the nature of the endocrine disrupting effect of a chemical. This hypothesis is based on previous results obtained from studies of xenoestrogenic responses in our laboratory as well as results obtained elsewhere. It is our goal to study the mechanisms of action of selected environmental pollutants in a comparative manner, and to elucidate evolutionary differences in chemico-biological interactions of the nuclear receptors. This knowledge may lead to new and more sensitive technologies fo r biological effect monitoring of environmental contaminants.