Ah receptor for 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo- p-dioxin: Comparative studies in mammalian and nonmammalian species

The Ah receptor was identified and characterized in cytosol from a large number of diverse animal species. Molecular properties of the Ah receptor were similar in all species which had detectable receptor. However, subtle differences in receptor properties exist among animal species and these differences indicate that the Ah receptor protein is not identical in all species. It is not yet known whether differences in receptor properties among animal species play a significant role in determining differential susceptibility of the species to toxicity from halogenated aromatic compounds.