Transcription factors

Definition

Transcription factors are proteins that help regulate the transcription of genes by binding to specific DNA sequences. They play a critical role in turning genes on or off in response to various cellular signals.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Transcription factors can act as activators or repressors of gene expression.
2. They often bind to promoter or enhancer regions of DNA to influence RNA polymerase activity.
3. Many transcription factors require cofactors or other regulatory proteins to function properly.
4. Mutations in transcription factor genes can lead to diseases, including cancer and developmental disorders.
5. Epigenetic modifications such as methylation can affect the binding affinity of transcription factors.

Review Questions

• What roles do transcription factors play in gene expression?
• How do transcription factors interact with DNA to regulate gene activity?
• What impact can mutations in transcription factor genes have on an organism?

Related terms

Promoter:

A region of DNA where RNA polymerase binds to initiate transcription.

Enhancer: A DNA sequence that increases the efficiency of transcription initiation from a promoter.

Epigenetics: The study of heritable changes in gene expression that do not involve changes to the underlying DNA sequence.