A protein that binds to a specific DNA sequences are and controlls the transfer or transcription of genetic information from DNA to mRNA.
Transcription – the process of making messenger RNA (mRNA) from a DNA template by RNA polymerase.
Transcription factor – a protein that binds to DNA and regulates gene expression by promoting or suppressing transcription.
Transcriptional regulation – controlling the rate of gene transcription by helping or hindering RNA polymerase binding to DNA
Upregulation, activation, or promotion – increases the rate of gene transcription.
Downregulation, repression, or suppression – decreased the rate of gene transcription.
Coactivator – a protein or a small molecule, that works with transcription factors to increase the rate of gene transcription.
Corepressor – a protein (or a small molecule, that works with transcription factors to decrease the rate of gene transcription
Response element – a specific sequence of DNA that a transcription factor binds to.