Required for activity of the AHR. Upon ligand binding, AHR translocates into the nucleus, where it heterodimerizes with ARNT and induces transcription by binding to xenobiotic response elements (XRE). Not required for the ligand-binding subunit to translocate from the cytosol to the nucleus after ligand binding (PubMed:34521881). The complex initiates transcription of genes involved in the regulation of a variety of biological processes, including angiogenesis, hematopoiesis, drug and lipid metabolism, cell motility and immune modulation (Probable). The heterodimer binds to core DNA sequence 5′-TACGTG-3′ within the hypoxia response element (HRE) of target gene promoters and functions as a transcriptional regulator of the adaptive response to hypoxia (By similarity). The heterodimer ARNT:AHR binds to core DNA sequence 5′-TGCGTG-3′ within the dioxin response element (DRE) of target gene promoters and activates their transcription (PubMed:28396409).
