What is a transcription factor?
What are the transcription factors that are basically introduced in transcription factors?
A transcription factor (TRANSCRIPTIONFACTOR,TF) is a protein that can be combined with a specific DNA sequence to form a complex, either alone or with other proteins, to increase or block the recruitment of the gene to the RNA polymerase, and to regulate the expression of the gene. The transcription factor is characterized by the inclusion of one or more DNA binding domains (dna-binding domain, DBDs), which are combined with DNA sequences near genes to achieve regulatory
The conservative nature of transcription factors
Transcription factors exist in all living organisms, are key molecules of gene expression regulation, are conserved among organisms, and the transcription factors of the same transcription factor family of different species have the same or similar binding sequences. Transcription factors are widespread in organisms, with the number increasing with the size of the genome, for example, there are about 2,600 proteins in the human genome that contain DNA binding domains, most of which have transcription factor functions.
Structure of transcription factors
Transcription factors are generally composed of the DNA binding region, transcription regulatory region (including activation region or inhibition zone), oligonucleotide site and nuclear location signal 4 functional areas. Transcription factors regulate the transcription of genes through these functional areas interacting with promoter cis-components or with functional areas of other transcription factors.
- DNA binding zone (dna-binding domain): A sequence of amino acids in which transcription factors identify and bind DNA cis-acting elements, and the amino acid sequence of the DNA binding region of the same type of transcription factor is conservative.
- Transcription regulatory zones: Include transcription activation zones (transcription activation domain) and transcriptional inhibition zones (transcription repression domain), which determine the difference in transcription factor function. There are three possible ways in which the transcriptional factor inhibition zone can function:
2.1 When combined with the Promoter's related sites, it is possible to prevent other transcription factors from binding with the Promoter;
2.2 To prevent transcription by inhibiting other transcription factors;
2.3 The advanced structure of DNA (High-order structure) is altered in some way to make transcription impossible.
- Nuclear location Signal region: the approved bit signal region (nuclear localization signal,nls) is a transcription factor rich in arginine and lysine residues in the nuclear localization region, the transcription factor into the nucleus of the process is controlled by the number of different transcription factors of the NLS in the same area, A transcription factor can contain 1 to several NLS functional areas
- Oligonucleotide Sites: oligonucleotide sites (oligomerization site) are functional domains with different transcription factors interacting with each other. Their amino acid sequences are conservative, mostly linked to the DNA binding zone and form a certain spatial conformation.
function of transcription factors
- Gene transcription regulation, also known as the general transcription factor in eukaryotic organisms (transcription factors, GTFs).
- The difference in transcription is enhanced by binding adjacent DNA-enhanced sub-regions that regulate genes, thus differentiating the expression of various genes.
- Development, transcription factors can be involved in the development process.
- The cell signaling corresponds to the release of a molecule that produces signal transduction with the receptor cells so that the cells can communicate with each other.
- Environmental response, can also participate in the environmental stimulation signal cascade downstream.
- Cell cycle regulation, especially some primary or tumor suppressor genes, helps regulate cell cycle.
- Pathogenesis, transcription factors can be used to change the host cell gene expression, promote the pathogenesis.
Research methods of transcription factors
Transcription factors have been studied for many years, and a large amount of data has been accumulated, and there are two main methods of transcription factor research:
- Wet Experiment (experimental methods): mainly done in the laboratory, to find the relationship between transcription factors and binding sequences, that is, through the known TF to find unknown TFBS, or through known Tfbs to find out its corresponding TF
- Bioinformatics Analysis (computational methods): Bioinformatics methods are mainly based on existing research data, which is used to predict the relationship between transcription factors and sequences, that is, through conservative analysis of sequences, predicting unknown TF by known TF, or predicting unknown Tfbs by known Tfbs.
What is a transcription factor?
