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21 - Transcription
Book chapter

21 - Transcription

George P. Yang and Ronald J. Weigel
Surgical Research, pp.233-251
Academic Press
2001
DOI: 10.1016/B978-012655330-7/50023-X

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Abstract

This chapter provides an understanding of basic aspects of transcriptional regulation germane to the surgical investigator. Transcriptional regulation plays a critical role in orchestrating many aspects of physiology. There is a diverse set of transcriptional regulatory factors responsible for coordinating the promoter activity of genes. These transcription factors are composed of multiple domains, each performing one of the functions that are required of the whole protein. The estrogen receptor (ER) is a member of the family of nuclear hormone receptors that includes the thyroid hormone receptor, retinoic acid receptor, and the steroid hormone receptors. Each member displays a characteristic arrangement of three separate domains. From amino to carboxy terminus, the domains are an A/B region that is cell and promoter specific, containing a transcriptional activation region, a DNA-binding domain, and a hormone-binding and dimerization domain. Every transcription factor works by recognizing a specific DNA sequence, the enhancer element, which it binds with high affinity. After binding that site, the transcription factor is then capable of initiating transcription from associated promoters. Enhancer elements have fairly specific DNA sequences, but some variation is allowed.

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