Theoretical mechanisms for synthesis of carcinogen-induced embryonic proteins: XXII. Key theory--a mechanism for enhancer function.
In summary the Key Theory states that certain planar molecules can act in latching together enhancer elements with promoter elements to create hypersensitive recognition for super-efficient initiation sites of RNA polymerase activity of a specific structural gene. Specificities of these key molecules are required because of transacting factor binding and minor groove steric relationships and/or alkylations that in turn forms relatively permanent "on" modes of gene activity. This presents an explanation for the mechanism of a great variety of biologically active molecules such as steroid hormones and carcinogens.
Hancock
R L
RL
Departmento de Investigación Cientifica de la Facultad de Medicina Teórica, Universidad Autónama de Tamaulipas, México.
D000478:Alkylation / Q000009:adverse effects; D000818:Animals; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000378:metabolism; D052138:Genes, Neoplasm / Q000187:drug effects*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D007364:Intercalating Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation / Q000187:drug effects; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D015533:Transcriptional Activation / Q000187:drug effects*
D002273:Carcinogens; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007364:Intercalating Agents; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases