Figure 1.

Activation of AHR signaling in canonical and non-canonical manners. Upon ligand binding, AHR translocates into the nucleus in the canonical pathway, where it forms a heterodimer with ARNT. This complex then interacts with Xenobiotic Response Elements (XRE) on target gene promoters, initiating downstream gene transcription. Conversely, in the non-canonical pathway, ligand-bound AHR interacts with alternative transcription factors such as KLF6, ERα, and NFκB, leading to the activation of gene transcription or degradation of transcription factors independent of XRE interaction.