Co-chairman's remarks: protein designs for the specific recognition of DNA

The selective expression of a gene is achieved through the interaction of protein transcription factors with characteristic nucleotide sequences located in the regulatory region of the gene, which is usually distinct from the coding region. These proteins contain domains which bind specifically to the DNA sites (or response elements). Some general principles in the design of these DNA-binding domains are described, followed by examples of the different structural classes discovered so far and how they recognise their binding sites.