The characteristic of steroid hormones is that they interact with receptors on the exterior surface of the cell membrane. This is the correct answer out of the options provided.
Steroid hormones are lipid-soluble molecules that can pass through the cell membrane and bind to specific receptors located on the exterior surface of the cell. Once the hormone binds to its receptor, it forms a hormone-receptor complex that can then enter the nucleus of the cell and influence gene expression by directly interacting with DNA.
In contrast:
- Option b (They are derived from peptides or proteins) is incorrect because steroid hormones are derived from cholesterol, not peptides or proteins.
- Option c (They utilize second messenger systems to produce target tissue actions) is incorrect because steroid hormones act through direct gene regulation and do not require second messenger systems.
- Option d (They produce cAMP molecules in target tissue) is incorrect as cAMP (cyclic adenosine monophosphate) is not a characteristic feature of steroid hormone action.
