Chapter 1. The Regulation of Gene Expression

Summary

This chapter contains sections titled:

• Regulation of Gene Expression: How and Where? A Schematic Overview

• Protein-Nucleic Acid Interactions as a Basis for Specific Gene Regulation

  • Structural Motifs of DNA-binding Proteins

  • The Nature of the Specific Interactions in Protein-Nucleic Acid Complexes

  • The Role of the DNA Conformation in Protein-DNA Interactions

  • Structure of the Recognition Sequence and Quaternary Structure of DNA-binding Proteins

• The Principles of Transcription Regulation

  • Elements of Transcription Regulation

  • Functional Requirements for Repressors and Transcriptional Activators

  • Mechanisms for the Control of the Activity of DNA-binding Proteins

    • Binding of Effector Molecules

    • Binding of Inhibitory Proteins

    • Modification of Regulatory Proteins

    • Changes in the Concentration of Regulatory DNA-binding Proteins

• Regulation of Transcription in Eucaryotes

  • Overview of Transcription Initiation in Procaryotes

  • The Basic Features of Eukaryotic Transcription

  • The Eucaryotic Transcription Apparatus

    • Structure of the Transcription Start Site and Regulatory Sequences

    • Elementary Steps of Eucaryotic Transcription

    • Formation of a Basal Transcription Apparatus from General Transcription Factors and RNA Polymerase

    • Phosphorylation of RNA Polymerase II and the Onset of Transcription

    • TFIIH – a Pivotal Regulatory Protein Complex

  • Regulation of Eucaryotic Transcription by DNA-binding Proteins

    • The Structure of Eucaryotic Transcriptional Activators

    • Concerted Action of Transcriptional Activators and Coactivators in the Regulation of Transcription

    • Interactions with the Transcription Apparatus

  • Regulation of the Activity of Transcriptional Activators

    • The Principal Pathways for the Regulation of Transcriptional Activators

    • Phosphorylation of Transcriptional Activators

    • Heterotypic Dimerization

    • Regulation by Binding of Effector Molecules

  • Specific Repression of Transcription

  • Chromatin Structure and Transcription Activation

  • Methylation of DNA

• Post-transcriptional Regulation of Gene Expression

  • Modifications at the 5' and 3' Ends of the Pre-mRNA

  • Formation of Alternative mRNA by Alternative Polyadenylation and by Alternative Splicing

  • Regulation via Transport and Splicing of Pre-mRNA

  • Stability of the mRNA

  • Regulation at the Level of Translation