Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Regulation of Expression at Multiple Steps01:23

Regulation of Expression at Multiple Steps

1.1K
The gene expression in cells is regulated at different stages: (i) transcription, (ii) RNA processing, (iii) RNA localization, and (iv) translation. Transcriptional regulation is mediated by regulatory proteins such as transcription factors, activators, or repressors—these control gene expression by initiating or inhibiting the transcription of genes. Once a precursor or pre-mRNA is produced, it undergoes post-transcriptional modification, including 5' capping, splicing, and the...
1.1K
Regulation of Expression Occurs at Multiple Steps02:24

Regulation of Expression Occurs at Multiple Steps

23.8K
Gene expression can be regulated at almost every step from gene to protein. Transcription is the step that is most commonly regulated. This involves the binding of proteins to short regulatory sequences on the DNA. This association can either promote or inhibit the transcription of a gene associated with the respective sequence.
Transcription results in the generation of precursor (pre-mRNA) that consists of both exons and introns, which needs further processing before being translated to a...
23.8K
Master Transcription Regulators02:23

Master Transcription Regulators

7.2K
Master transcription regulators are regulatory proteins that are predominantly responsible for regulating the expression of multiple genes. Often these genes work in concert to drive a  complex process. Activation of a master transcription regulator can lead to a cascade of transcriptional activation necessary for that outcome. These regulators can directly bind to the regulatory sequences of the various genes involved, or they can indirectly regulate transcription by binding to regulatory...
7.2K
RNA Polymerase II Accessory Proteins02:36

RNA Polymerase II Accessory Proteins

9.8K
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...
9.8K
Transcription01:10

Transcription

150.4K
Overview
Transcription is the process of synthesizing RNA from a DNA sequence by RNA polymerase. It is the first step in producing a protein from a gene sequence. Additionally, many other proteins and regulatory sequences are involved in the proper synthesis of messenger RNA (mRNA). Regulation of transcription is responsible for the differentiation of all the different types of cells and often for the proper cellular response to environmental signals.
Transcription Can Produce Different Kinds...
150.4K
Cooperative Binding of Transcription Regulators02:13

Cooperative Binding of Transcription Regulators

6.7K
Transcriptional regulators bind to specific cis-regulatory sequences in the DNA to regulate gene transcription. These cis-regulatory sequences are very short, usually less than ten nucleotide pairs in length. The short length means that there is a high probability of the exact same sequence randomly occurring throughout the genome.  Since regulators can also bind to groups of similar sequences, this further increases the chances of random binding. Transcriptional regulators form...
6.7K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Nucleosomes as active platforms for pioneer factor action.

Molecular cell·2026
Same author

Single-molecule localization and diffusivity microscopy reveals dynamic biomolecular organization in living cells.

Nature methods·2026
Same author

Effectiveness and implementation of an embedded community-based heart-age risk education model (E-CHARM) in improving cardiovascular risk awareness and health behaviors among older adults with hypertension: Protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Contemporary clinical trials·2026
Same author

Thioether editing generally increases the photostability of rhodamine dyes on self-labeling tags.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2025
Same author

A palette of bridged bicycle-strengthened fluorophores.

Nature methods·2025
Same author

Mesoscale chromatin confinement facilitates target search of pioneer transcription factors in live cells.

Nature structural & molecular biology·2024

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 10, 2025

Real-time Analysis of Transcription Factor Binding, Transcription, Translation, and Turnover to Display Global Events During Cellular Activation
12:54

Real-time Analysis of Transcription Factor Binding, Transcription, Translation, and Turnover to Display Global Events During Cellular Activation

Published on: March 7, 2018

13.7K

Dynamic transcription regulation at the single-molecule level.

Zuhui Wang1, Wulan Deng2

  • 1Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center (BIOPIC), Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China; Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.

Developmental Biology
|December 13, 2021
PubMed
Summary

Live-cell imaging reveals transcription factors (TFs) dynamically search and bind DNA, offering new insights into gene regulation. Understanding TF dynamics is key to deciphering cell fate changes.

Keywords:
Chromatin regulationRNA polymerase IISingle-molecule imagingTranscription factor

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Investigating mRNA Spatial Distribution in Drosophila Muscle Tissue
10:22

Author Spotlight: Investigating mRNA Spatial Distribution in Drosophila Muscle Tissue

Published on: September 8, 2023

1.7K
Single-Molecule Imaging of EWS-FLI1 Condensates Assembling on DNA
07:05

Single-Molecule Imaging of EWS-FLI1 Condensates Assembling on DNA

Published on: September 8, 2021

2.5K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Oct 10, 2025

Real-time Analysis of Transcription Factor Binding, Transcription, Translation, and Turnover to Display Global Events During Cellular Activation
12:54

Real-time Analysis of Transcription Factor Binding, Transcription, Translation, and Turnover to Display Global Events During Cellular Activation

Published on: March 7, 2018

13.7K
Author Spotlight: Investigating mRNA Spatial Distribution in Drosophila Muscle Tissue
10:22

Author Spotlight: Investigating mRNA Spatial Distribution in Drosophila Muscle Tissue

Published on: September 8, 2023

1.7K
Single-Molecule Imaging of EWS-FLI1 Condensates Assembling on DNA
07:05

Single-Molecule Imaging of EWS-FLI1 Condensates Assembling on DNA

Published on: September 8, 2021

2.5K

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Cell fate determination relies on transcription regulation.
  • Transcription factors (TFs) orchestrate gene expression through DNA binding.
  • Live-cell imaging offers unprecedented views of molecular dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review technical advances in live-cell single-molecule imaging.
  • To explore the biological significance of TF dynamics in transcription.
  • To connect TF molecular behavior to cell fate regulation.

Main Methods:

  • Live-cell single-molecule imaging.
  • High-temporal and spatial resolution microscopy.
  • Integration with biochemical, structural, genetic, and genomic techniques.

Main Results:

  • Transcription factors exhibit dynamic searching and binding behaviors.
  • TF dynamics occur within the native chromatin environment.
  • Single-molecule insights challenge static models of TF function.

Conclusions:

  • Dynamic TF behavior is crucial for transcription regulation.
  • Understanding TF molecular dynamics enhances mechanistic insights.
  • This approach provides a more comprehensive view of gene regulation.