Transcription Factor Analysis

Transcription factors are proteins that bind to specific DNA sequences and regulate the transcription of genetic information from DNA to messenger RNA (mRNA). They are found in all living organisms. Transcription factors bind to either the enhancer or the promoter region of the genes they regulate and function by the following three major mechanisms:

•   Stabilize or block the binding of RNA polymerase to DNA
•   Catalyze the acetylation or deacetylation of histone proteins
•   Recruit coactivator or corepressor proteins to the transcription factor-DNA complex

Transcription factors are vital for many important cellular processes including basal transcription regulation, differential transcription enhancement, intercellular signal response, cell cycle control, and disease development.

Eukaryotic Transcription Factors

Profacgen provides multiple assays for the study of transcription factors. The combination of Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay (EMSA) and DNase I footprinting assay is often applied in the determination of in vitro protein-DNA interaction and the identification of protein binding sequences. Another method, Chromatin Immunoprecipitation Assay (ChIP), is commonly used to map the protein binding sites of a transcription factor in the genome.

Profacgen offers versatile solutions for either prokaryotic or eukaryotic transcription factor analysis. Please feel free to contact us with any question or potential project.