What are homeodomain transcription factors?

What are homeodomain transcription factors?

Homeobox transcription factors are sequence-specific DNA binding proteins that regulate transcription. These family members are characterized by a helix-turn-helix DNA-binding motif known as the homeodomain (encoded by the 180 bp homeobox sequence element).

What is the function of homeodomain?

The homeodomain is a highly conserved 60‐amino‐acid protein domain that is encoded by the homeobox and is found in organisms as diverse as mammals, insects, plants and yeast. Homeodomains function as DNA binding domains and are found in many transcription factors that control development and cell fate decisions.

Are homeodomain proteins transcription factor?

Homeodomain proteins function as transcription factors due to the DNA binding properties of the conserved HTH motif. Homeodomain proteins are considered to be master control genes, meaning that a single protein can regulate expression of many target genes.

What is the role of transcription factors?

Transcription factors are DNA binding proteins that can activate or repress target gene expression. Their effects are amplified by their ability to bind to multiple promoter regions, causing a large number of genes to be switched on or off by a single transcription factor.

What is the function of transcription factor?

Transcription factors are proteins involved in the process of converting, or transcribing, DNA into RNA. Transcription factors include a wide number of proteins, excluding RNA polymerase, that initiate and regulate the transcription of genes.

Where are transcription factors made?

Transcription factors are proteins that bind to DNA-regulatory sequences (enhancers and silencers), usually localized in the 5-upstream region of target genes, to modulate the rate of gene transcription.

Why is TATA box important?

The TATA box is essential for transcription and binds either TBP or the Acanthamoeba version of TFIID (32). The start site region is not essential, but serves to constrain the positioning of RNA polymerase II (24).

Why is zinc finger important?

Zinc-finger proteins (ZNFs) are involved in several cellular processes acting through different molecular mechanisms. ZNFs have key role in development and differentiation of several tissues. ZNFs are involved in tumorigenesis, cancer progression and metastasis formation.