Model of hormone-dependent gene activation by the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). In the absence of hormone, GR is bound in a complex with Hsp90 in the cytoplasm via its ligand-binding domain (light purple). When hormone is present, it diffuses through the plasma membrane and binds to the GR ligand-binding domain, causing a conformational change in the ligand-binding domain that releases the receptor from Hsp90. The receptor with bound ligand is then translocated into the nucleus where its DNA-binding domain (orange) binds to response elements, allowing the activation domain (green) to stimulate transcription of target genes.