Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 17, 2026

Studying Wnt Signaling During Patterning of Conducting Airways
Published on: October 16, 2016
Combinatorial regulation of tissue specification by GATA and FOG factors
Timothy M Chlon1, John D Crispino
1Department of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
Abstract:
The development of complex organisms requires the formation of diverse cell types from common stem and progenitor cells. GATA family transcriptional regulators and their dedicated co-factors, termed Friend of GATA (FOG) proteins, control cell fate and differentiation in multiple tissue types from Drosophila to man. FOGs can both facilitate and antagonize GATA factor transcriptional regulation depending on the factor, cell, and even the specific gene target. In this review, we highlight recent studies that have elucidated mechanisms by which FOGs regulate GATA factor function and discuss how these factors use these diverse modes of gene regulation to control cell lineage specification throughout metazoans.
Related Concept Videos
General Transcription Factors
Combinatorial Gene Control
The expression of more than 30,000 genes is controlled by approximately 2000-3000 transcription factors. This is possible because a single transcription factor can recognize more than one regulatory sequence. The specificity in gene...
Transcription Factors
Transcription Factors
Master Transcription Regulators
Master Transcription Regulators

