The Research Advances in G-Protein-Coupled Estrogen Receptor

Abstract

Estrogen binds to the typical estrogen receptor (ER) ERα or ERβ and is translocated to the nucleus, where it binds directly to the estrogen response element of the target gene to induce transcription and regulate gene expression, and the whole process is completed in several hours to several days. The G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER), a type that is structurally distinct from typical ERα and ERβ, rapidly induces most non-genomic effects within seconds to minutes. GPER regulates cell growth, migration, and programmed cell death in a variety of tissues and has been associated with the progression of estrogen-associated cancers. Here, the characteristics, cell signal transduction, and the latest research progress of GPER in estrogen-associated tumors and retinal diseases are reviewed.