Transcription coregulator

Transcription coregulator is a type of protein that interacts with transcription factors to modulate the transcription of genes. Transcription coregulators do not directly bind to DNA, but they assist transcription factors in their function. They are essential for the regulation of gene expression, which is a crucial process in all living organisms.

Function

Transcription coregulators play a vital role in the regulation of gene expression. They can either enhance (coactivator) or repress (corepressor) the transcription of genes. They achieve this by interacting with transcription factors, which are proteins that bind to specific DNA sequences and control the flow of information from DNA to mRNA.

Types

There are two main types of transcription coregulators: coactivators and corepressors.

Coactivators

Coactivators are a type of transcription coregulator that enhance the transcription of genes. They do this by interacting with transcription factors and other proteins to form a complex that promotes the transcription process. Coactivators can also modify chromatin structure to make the DNA more accessible to the transcription machinery.

Corepressors

Corepressors are another type of transcription coregulator that repress the transcription of genes. They interact with transcription factors to inhibit the transcription process. Corepressors can also modify chromatin structure to make the DNA less accessible to the transcription machinery.

Role in Disease

Abnormalities in transcription coregulators can lead to various diseases. For example, mutations in coactivators or corepressors can disrupt the normal balance of gene expression, leading to diseases such as cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and metabolic disorders.

See Also

• Transcription (biology)
• Transcription factor
• Gene expression
• Coactivator (genetics)
• Corepressor