Transcription factor

How it is used

Used in gene regulation, developmental biology and cancer biology. Transcription factors act as activators or repressors and recognize binding sites, also called motifs. Researchers study them with ChIP-seq and reporter assays. Well-known examples include p53, OCT4 and SOX2. Often shortened to TF.

Example sentences

1. This transcription factor activates genes involved in the response to low oxygen.

2. We found a binding site for the transcription factor in the promoter.

Common collocations

• transcription factor binding site
• master transcription factor
• bind a transcription factor
• transcription factor activity

Related terms

• promoterA region of DNA just before a gene where RNA polymerase and transcription factors bind to start transcription.
• transcriptionThe first step of gene expression, in which an enzyme called RNA polymerase copies the DNA sequence of a gene into a matching RNA molecule.
• gene expressionThe process by which the information in a gene is used to make a product, usually a protein, and the level at which this happens in a cell.
• upregulateTo increase the expression or activity of a gene or protein. The opposite is 'downregulate'.

More terms: Gene Expression and Regulation

• translation
• mRNA
• codon
• exon
• intron
• epigenetics