Emerging roles of the 26S proteasome in nuclear hormone receptor-regulated transcription

The mechanisms by which nuclear hormone receptors (NHRs) regulate transcription are highly dynamic and require interplay between a myriad of regulatory protein complexes including the 26S proteasome. Protein degradation is the most well-established role of the proteasome; however, an increasing body of evidence suggests that the 26S proteasome may regulate transcription in proteolytic and nonproteolytic mechanisms. Here we review how these mechanisms may apply to NHR-mediated transcriptional regulation. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled The 26S Proteasome: When degradation is just not enough!

Research highlights
► Nuclear hormone receptors are specialized transcriptional regulators that interact directly with chromatin.
► The proteasome regulates NHR-mediated transcription via proteolytic and non-proteolytic mechanisms.
► The proteasome expands NHR transcriptional networks by modulating chromatin plasticity.