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Transcription in Eukaryotes definitions

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  • RNA Polymerase II
    Enzyme responsible for synthesizing messenger RNA in eukaryotes, requiring specific factors for accurate initiation.
  • General Transcription Factors
    Proteins essential for the initiation of transcription by helping recruit RNA polymerase II to the promoter.
  • TATA Box
    A DNA sequence found about 30 base pairs upstream of the transcription start site, serving as a key promoter element.
  • Promoter
    A DNA region upstream of a gene where transcription factors and RNA polymerase assemble to begin transcription.
  • Pre-initiation Complex
    Assembly of RNA polymerase II and general transcription factors at the promoter, poised for transcription initiation.
  • Carboxy Terminal Domain
    A tail region of RNA polymerase II whose phosphorylation triggers the transition from initiation to elongation.
  • Phosphorylation
    Addition of phosphate groups to the carboxy terminal domain, enabling RNA polymerase II to start elongation.
  • Elongation
    Phase where RNA polymerase II moves along DNA, synthesizing the RNA strand after initiation is complete.
  • Termination
    Process where RNA polymerase II eventually disengages from DNA, often after transcribing beyond the coding region.
  • Post-transcriptional Processing
    Modifications made to the primary RNA transcript, including removal of extra nucleotides after transcription ends.
  • Enhancer
    Regulatory DNA element that increases transcription efficiency, sometimes located far from the gene it influences.
  • Silencer
    Regulatory DNA sequence that represses gene transcription, counteracting the effects of enhancers.
  • Specific Transcription Factors
    Proteins that regulate transcription of particular genes, acting in addition to general transcription factors.
  • Cis-acting Elements
    Regulatory DNA sequences located on the same chromosome as the gene they control, possibly far from the gene.
  • Trans-acting Elements
    Regulatory factors or sequences that can influence gene expression from different chromosomes due to chromatin organization.