From transcriptional regulation to aggressive behavior

Gene expression in higher organisms, is, to a large degree, controlled at the level of transcription, where DNA-binding proteins (transcription factors) play an influential role in gene regulation. This is achieved through various mechanisms, including those that involve silencer and enhancer regions. Variation in those regulatory regions, as well as in the genes encoding the transcription factors, has been shown to generate functional effects at the molecular, cellular, and neurobehavioral levels. The aim of the present paper is two-fold. First, for the sake of clarity and to reintroduce the terminology to Behavior Genetics readers, we review the concepts of gene structure, gene expression, and gene regulation. Second, using distinct bioinformatic tools, we set out to identify transcription factors that could be involved in the transcriptional regulation of genes known to be associated with aggressive behavior in mice. The results of this in silico study reveal common putative transcription factor binding sites among the set of genes investigated (especially for SRY), suggesting similar molecular transcriptional mechanisms.