Biology / Unit 6 Bio 1329 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Eukaryotic Transcription Factors and Enhancers
Captions available
The idea
A eukaryotic gene's transcription rate is further tuned by factors binding enhancer sequences, which can lie far from the regulated gene.
In practice
An activator bound to a distant enhancer can loop DNA to contact the promoter's initiation complex, boosting transcription.
Where people slip
An enhancer's distance from its gene along the DNA does not limit its effect — DNA looping brings the two into contact regardless.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Something wrong in this lesson? Flag it · Sources for Biology