Steroid hormone receptor superfamily is a kind of gene trans-acting factors and modulates both RNA pol -directedr RNA transcription and RNA pol Ⅱ-directed transcription. The melocular pathway of RNA pol Ⅱ-directed transcription regulated by the superfamily includes the binding of ligand, dissociation of relative proteins, receptor phosphorylation,homo/hetero-dimerization,nuclear localization and interaction with positive or negative hormone response elements and related transcriptional proteins. As a result，the specific target gene is activated or repressed. Now more studies focus on the actieating mechanism of some classic receptors and orphan receptors with or without ligand，as well as their regulations on specific gene transcription.