The role of enhancers as centres for general transcription factor recruitment.
Activation of eukaryotic genes requires a tight temporal control of trans-acting-factor binding to different types of sequence elements. General transcription factors (GTFs) have a central role in the regulation of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) function because they are involved in the initiation of transcription at all class II promoters. Recent studies have shown that GTFs and Pol II are recruited to enhancer elements and that this binding is an early event in gene activation. We propose that an important role of some enhancers is to function as nucleation centres for the assembly of the pre-initiation complex to regulate the timing of gene activation during development, differentiation and the cell cycle.
Szutorisz
Henrietta
H
Gene Regulation and Chromatin Group, MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, Hammersmith Campus, Du Cane Road, London W12 ONN, UK.
Dillon
Niall
N
Tora
László
L
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D002843:Chromatin / Q000235:genetics; D004257:DNA Polymerase II / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004742:Enhancer Elements, Genetic / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008954:Models, Biological; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D013045:Species Specificity; D035165:Transcription Factors, General / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015533:Transcriptional Activation
D002843:Chromatin; D035165:Transcription Factors, General; D004257:DNA Polymerase II