Chemical approaches to studying transcription

Gene transcription is one of the most important and complex processes in biology but great advances are being made into understanding its molecular mechanisms. Selective modulators of nuclear receptors that can regulate transcription of specific genes allow for the comparative analysis of different states of transcription. Techniques to monitor the binding of proteins to DNA leading up to transcription have also increased our knowledge of the events involved in the initiation of transcription. While still in its infancy, the use of chemical tools to study transcription shows great promise in dissecting a complex molecular process.