Cytosolic or intracellular receptors are located inside cells and are activated when hydrophobic ligands pass through the cell membrane. They include steroid hormone and thyroid hormone receptors. Intracellular receptors bind ligands that enter the cell and then travel to the nucleus to regulate gene expression. In contrast, cell surface or extracellular receptors have three domains including an extracellular domain that binds ligands outside the cell, triggering a signal transduction cascade.
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