Regulatory mechanism of genes by the Ah receptor which mediates toxic effects of dioxins

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor(AhR) plays a central role in the metabolic pathways involved in the detoxification of important environmental carcinogens, most of which act as ligand for the receptor, although no endogeneous ligand has not yet been known. Activation of the AhR is responsible for a variety of toxic responses in animals and humans. The activation mechanisms become clear that include binding of ligand to receptor, transfer to the nucleus, formation of a ternary complex with Arnt, followed by binding to response elements upstream of the relevant target genes. However, the specific mechanisms responsible for the toxic responses of dioxins are unknown.