Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are exogenous substances that interfere with
the function of hormonal systems and produce a range of developmental, reproductive,
neurological, immune or metabolic diseases in humans and wildlife. Many EDCs such as phthalates
or bisphenol A (BPA) plasticizers, organotins, pesticides, dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls,
flame retardants or alkylphenols are man-made chemicals produced by industry and released into the
environment. Some naturally occurring EDCs such as the so-called phytoestrogens genistein,
daidzein or the mycoestrogen zearalenone, can also be found in plants or fungi.
The molecular mechanisms of EDCs involve different pathways including interactions with nuclear hormone receptors (NHRs)
which are primary targets of a large variety of envirommental contaminants (1).
EdMon is integrated into the server @TOME2 (2) that uses the crystal structures available in the Protein Data Bank (PDB) to model
any NHR/EDC complexes and to estimate their binding affinities.
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