Positive activation of gene expression
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 24, 2026

Rapid Optimization of a Light-Inducible System to Control Mammalian Gene Expression
Published on: November 4, 2025
1School of Biochemistry, The University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
Abstract:
Most bacterial transcription activators function by making direct contact with RNA polymerase at target promoters. Some activators contact the carboxy-terminal domain of the RNA polymerase alpha subunit, some contact region 4 of the sigma70 subunit, whilst others interact with other contact sites. A number of activators are ambidextrous and can, apparently simultaneously, contact more than one target site on RNA polymerase. Expression from many promoters is co-dependent on two or more activators. There are several different mechanisms for coupling promoter activity to more than one activator: in one such mechanism, the different activators make independent contacts with different target sites on RNA polymerase.
Related Concept Videos
Eukaryotic Transcription Activators
The binding domains are capable of recognizing and interacting with regulatory sequences on the DNA. These domains are...
RNA Polymerase II Accessory Proteins
Reporter Genes
Commonly used reporter...
Cancer-Critical Genes I: Proto-oncogenes
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
Cell Specific Gene Expression
Cell Specific Gene Expression
