Transcription factor

In molecular biology, a transcription factor is a protein that binds DNA at a specific promoter or enhancer region or site, where it regulates transcription. Transcription factors can be selectively activated or deactivated by other proteins, often as the final step in signal transduction.

Table of contents

1 Classes
2 Motifs found in transcription factors
3 See also

Classes

There are three classes of transcription factors:

General transcription factors are involved in the formation of a preinitiantion complex.
Upstream transcription factors are unregulated proteins that bind somewhere upstream of the initiation site to stimulate or repress transcription.
Inducible transcription factors are similar to upstream transcription factors but require activation or inhibition.

Motifs found in transcription factors

Zinc fingers function as structural platforms for DNA binding.
Leu zippers function in associating the transcription factors with eachother.

See also

DNA-binding protein

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