Eukaryotic Transcriptional Regulation [Transcription Factors, Enhancers and Repressors]

Transcription Factors, Enhancers and Repressors

• There are two types of transcription factors: basal (general) or specific transcription factors.
• Basal transcription factors can bind to the core promoter region of genes and help RNA polymerase bind.
• Specific transcription factors bind to regions outside the promoter to enhance or repress expression.
• There are regions of the genome called enhancers.
• Enhancers can be located thousands of base pairs away from a gene's promoter, or even be located within a gene.
• Once bound to enhancers, the transcription factors can get in close proximity to the promoter.
• They recruit RNA polymerase, facilitating transcription.
• On the other hand, repressor proteins can bind to enhancers or the promoter to repress transcription.