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Updated: Mar 10, 2026

Identification of Transcription Factor Regulators using Medium-Throughput Screening of Arrayed Libraries and a Dual-Luciferase-Based Reporter
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Identification of Transcription Factor Regulators using Medium-Throughput Screening of Arrayed Libraries and a Dual-Luciferase-Based Reporter

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A peptide-based synthetic transcription factor selectively down-regulates the proto-oncogene CFOS in tumour cells and

Madhumita Chakraborty1, Siddhartha Roy1

  • 1Department of Biophysics, Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Scheme VII M, Kolkata 700054, India. sidroykolkata@gmail.com.

Chemical Communications (Cambridge, England)
|December 10, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Scientists created a synthetic transcription factor using peptides. This molecule precisely controls gene activity in tumor cells, stopping their growth.

Area of Science:

  • Chemical Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Synthetic Biology

Background:

  • Precise control over gene expression is crucial in chemical biology.
  • Developing tools for targeted gene regulation remains a significant challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To engineer a novel peptide-based synthetic transcription factor.
  • To achieve high-affinity DNA binding with single base-pair specificity.
  • To demonstrate selective gene regulation and inhibition of cancer cell proliferation.

Main Methods:

  • Design and synthesis of a peptide-based transcription factor.
  • Assay of DNA binding affinity and specificity.
  • Delivery of the synthetic transcription factor into tumor cells.
  • Analysis of targeted gene expression and cell proliferation.

Main Results:

  • The synthetic transcription factor exhibited high-affinity binding to target DNA sequences.
  • It demonstrated precise discrimination at the single base-pair level.
  • Intracellular delivery led to selective regulation of targeted genes.
  • Significant inhibition of tumor cell proliferation was observed.

Conclusions:

  • A novel peptide-based synthetic transcription factor was successfully developed.
  • This tool offers precise control over gene expression with high specificity.
  • The findings highlight potential therapeutic applications in cancer treatment.

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