Which of the following is a characteristic of steroid hormones?

Steroid hormones are characterized by their ability to influence cell activity primarily by acting on DNA within the nucleus of the target cells. These hormones are lipid-soluble, allowing them to easily pass through cell membranes and bind to specific intracellular receptors. Once they bind to these receptors, they form a hormone-receptor complex that translocates to the nucleus, where it can directly interact with the genetic material to regulate the expression of specific genes. This mechanism leads to changes in protein synthesis, ultimately affecting various cellular functions and activities.

In contrast, other types of hormones, such as peptide hormones, usually function via membrane receptors and utilize second messenger systems to create their effects without entering the cell. Additionally, steroid hormones are not water-soluble; instead, their lipid nature allows them to traverse cell membranes, differentiating them from water-soluble hormones that cannot permeate the cell membrane as easily. These characteristics make the capacity of steroid hormones to directly modulate DNA activity a defining and critical feature in the realm of endocrine signaling.