Nuclear receptors are a class of proteins, different from membrane receptors located in the cell membrane, found within cells that are responsible for sensing steroid and thyroid hormones and certain other molecules. Nuclear receptors have the ability to directly bind to DNA and regulate the expression of adjacent genes, hence these receptors are classified as transcription factors, thereby controlling the development, homeostasis, and metabolism of the organism. Over the last 15 years a growing number of nuclear receptors have been identified that coordinate genetic networks regulating lipid metabolism and energy utilization and underlie the pathogenesis of metabolic diseases, such as obesity, type II diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease.

TargetMol collects 531 reported compounds targeting nuclear receptors as Nuclear Receptor Compound Library, which can be used for research in nuclear receptor signaling and related diseases, and high throughput and high content screening for drug discovery.