In Order to Function,some Steroid Hormones Must Penetrate Two Membranes

Question

In order to function,some steroid hormones must penetrate two membranes in a cell.

Accepted Answer

Steroid hormones are hydrophobic molecules, so they cannot dissolve in the aqueous cytoplasm of a cell. Instead, they must pass through the hydrophobic regions of both the plasma membrane and nuclear membrane to reach their receptors inside the nucleus. Once inside, they can bind to the receptors and affect gene expression.