rev-erbα regulates gene transcription by directly binding to target response elements (revres), and comprises an a/t-rich flank followed by aggtca. rev-erbα mediates repression by recruiting the corepressor n-cor, which then activates the histone deacetylase (hdac) 3. a number of target genes have been identified for rev-erbα, including the lipoproteins apoa1 and apociii, hydratase dehydrogenase, the circadian factor bmal, and the anti-fibrinolytic factor pai-1. many of these genes are coordinately regulated by rev-erbα and the rar-related orphan receptor rorα, which share the same response elements but exert opposite effects on gene transcription. crosstalk between rev-erbα and rorα likely acts to fine-tune their target physiologic networks, such as circadian rhythms, metabolic homeostasis, and inflammation.