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Related Concept Videos

Transcription Factors02:16

Transcription Factors

82.0K
Tissue-specific transcription factors contribute to diverse cellular functions in mammals. For example, the gene for beta globin, a major component of hemoglobin, is present in all cells of the body. However, it is only expressed in red blood cells because the transcription factors that can bind to the promoter sequences of the beta globin gene are only expressed in these cells. Tissue-specific transcription factors also ensure that mutations in these factors may impair only the function of...
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General Transcription Factors01:30

General Transcription Factors

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Tissue-specific transcription factors contribute to diverse cellular functions in mammals. For example, the gene for beta globin, a major component of hemoglobin, is present in all cells of the body. However, it is only expressed in red blood cells because the transcription factors that can bind to the promoter sequences of the beta globin gene are only expressed in these cells. Tissue-specific transcription factors also ensure that mutations in these factors may impair only the function of...
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Eukaryotic Transcription Activators02:42

Eukaryotic Transcription Activators

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Transcription activators are proteins that promote the transcription of genes from DNA to RNA. In most cases, these proteins contain two separate domains ‒ a domain that binds to DNA and a domain for activating transcription; however, in some cases, a single domain is responsible for both binding and activation of transcription, as seen in the glucocorticoid receptor and MyoD.
The binding domains are capable of recognizing and interacting with regulatory sequences on the DNA. These...
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Co-activators and Co-repressors02:04

Co-activators and Co-repressors

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Gene transcription is regulated by the synergistic action of several proteins that form a complex at a gene regulatory site. This is observed in eukaryotes, where the regulation of gene expression is a complex process. Regulatory proteins in eukaryotes can broadly be classified into two types – regulators that bind directly to specific DNA sequences and co-regulators that associate with regulatory proteins but cannot directly bind to the DNA. These co-regulators are further divided into...
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Co-activators and Co-repressors02:04

Co-activators and Co-repressors

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RNA Polymerase II Accessory Proteins02:36

RNA Polymerase II Accessory Proteins

10.6K
Proteins that regulate transcription can do so either via direct contact with RNA Polymerase or through indirect interactions facilitated by adaptors, mediators, histone-modifying proteins, and nucleosome remodelers. Direct interactions to activate transcription is seen in bacteria as well as in some eukaryotic genes. In these cases, upstream activation sequences are adjacent to the promoters, and the activator proteins interact directly with the transcriptional machinery. For example, in...
10.6K

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A Chromatin Immunoprecipitation Assay to Identify Novel NFAT2 Target Genes in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
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When is a transcription factor a NAP?

Charles J Dorman1, Maria A Schumacher2, Matthew J Bush3

  • 1Department of Microbiology, Moyne Institute of Preventive Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland.

Current Opinion in Microbiology
|March 3, 2020
PubMed
Summary

Distinguishing transcription factors and nucleoid-associated proteins (NAPs) is challenging due to overlapping functions. Proteins exist on a spectrum, making clear definitions difficult.

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A Chromatin Immunoprecipitation Assay to Identify Novel NFAT2 Target Genes in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
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High Sensitivity Measurement of Transcription Factor-DNA Binding Affinities by Competitive Titration Using Fluorescence Microscopy
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Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genomics
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Transcription factors and nucleoid-associated proteins (NAPs) possess dual roles, regulating gene transcription and influencing genome architecture.
  • Existing definitions differentiating transcription factors and NAPs based on abundance, regulatory mechanisms, DNA-binding sites, or network position are insufficient.
  • Historical 'histone-like' descriptions of NAPs are outdated and do not fully capture their diverse functions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To critically evaluate the current definitions and distinctions between transcription factors and nucleoid-associated proteins (NAPs).
  • To highlight the difficulties in precisely delineating these protein classes based on established criteria.
  • To illustrate the complexities using the Streptomyces BldC protein as a case study.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of protein functions and characteristics.
  • Review of existing literature on transcription factors and NAPs.
  • Case study analysis of the Streptomyces BldC protein's structural and functional properties.

Main Results:

  • No single criterion adequately distinguishes transcription factors from NAPs.
  • Protein abundance, regulatory scope, and DNA-binding site characteristics are insufficient for clear classification.
  • Proteins exhibit a spectrum of activities, blurring the lines between specific transcription regulation and broader architectural roles.

Conclusions:

  • The terms 'transcription factor' and 'NAP' represent operational definitions rather than distinct biological entities.
  • A continuum exists between proteins with highly specific regulatory roles and those with pervasive effects on the transcriptome.
  • Understanding protein function requires considering their position along this structural and functional spectrum, as exemplified by Streptomyces BldC.