Which of the following statements about eukaryotic activator proteins is false?

• A. Activator proteins can recruit coactivators to modify chromatin structure.
• B. Activator proteins bind to enhancer regions to increase transcription.
• C. Activator proteins directly bind to RNA polymerase to initiate transcription.
• D. Activator proteins can interact with mediator complexes to facilitate transcription.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the role of activator proteins in eukaryotic transcription. Activator proteins are crucial for increasing the rate of transcription by binding to specific DNA sequences known as enhancers.
2. Recognize that activator proteins do not directly bind to RNA polymerase. Instead, they facilitate transcription by interacting with other proteins and complexes.
3. Activator proteins can recruit coactivators, which are proteins that modify chromatin structure, making the DNA more accessible for transcription.
4. Activator proteins can also interact with mediator complexes. These complexes serve as a bridge between activator proteins and RNA polymerase, helping to initiate transcription.
5. Identify the false statement: The statement that activator proteins directly bind to RNA polymerase to initiate transcription is false, as they typically interact with other proteins to influence transcription.