Gene regulation mechanisms activator

How is gene expression controlled Gene activity is controlled first and foremost at the level of transcription. Whether a gene is transcribed is determined largely by the interplay between specific DNA sequences and the specific proteins that bind to these sequences. We first consider gene regulation mechanisms in prokaryotes and particularly in E. coli, because... 

In the 1980s, advances in biotechnology had a considerable impact on steroid research. During this period, the mechanism of steroid hormone-activated gene regulation became more clearly defined. These mechanistic studies stiH receive considerable attention in the primary Hterature. 

Figure 2 The classical activation pathway of SHR. SHRs (gray circle) are associated with chaperones (rectangles). After binding of steroid hormones (black circle) SHRs activate target genes in the nucleus. Additional regulation mechanisms, e.g., phosphorylation are described in the text.

Iron-sulfur centers can participate in regulation mechanisms either directly, when they control the activity of an enzyme, or at a more integrated level, when they modulate the expression of some genes. The regulation mechanisms that have been elucidated so far involve either a change in the redox state or the interconversion of iron—sulfur centers. 

There is evidence that protease inhibitors selectively regulate the activity of specific digestive enzymes at the level of gene expression (Rosewicz et al., 1989). Specifically, soybean trypsin inhibitor increases secretion of proteases, including a form of trypsin that is resistant to inhibition but does not cause an increase in amylase secretion. Although the relationships between protease inhibitors and exocrine pancreatic secretion have received the most attention, pancreatic secretion is increased when potato fiber is added to the diet (Jacob et al., 2000), although the mechanism and signaling pathway have not been elucidated. 

Clearly, the control of gene expression at the transcriptional level is a key regulatory mechanism controlling carotenogenesis in vivo. However, post-transcriptional regulation of carotenoid biosynthesis enzymes has been found in chromoplasts of the daffodil. The enzymes phytoene synthase (PSY) and phytoene desaturase (PDS) are inactive in the soluble fraction of the plastid, but are active when membrane-bound (Al-Babili et al, 1996 Schledz et al, 1996). The presence of inactive proteins indicates that a post-translational regulation mechanism is present and is linked to the redox state of the membrane-bound electron acceptors. In addition, substrate specificity of the P- and e-lycopene cyclases may control the proportions of the p, P and P, e carotenoids in plants (Cunningham et al, 1996). 

As described later, hemopexin interacts with a variety of heme analogs, two of which, Sn-protoporphyrin IX (SnPP) and Co-protoporphyrin IX (CoPP), helped clarify the mechanism of MT-1 gene regulation by hemopexin. SnPP-hemopexin interacts with the hemopexin receptor and the SnPP (an inhibitor of HO-1, (91)) enters the cell and induces HO-1 (92). In contrast, CoPP-hemopexin interacts with the receptor, but CoPP is not internalized. Interestingly, the mere occupancy of the receptor by hemopexin is sufficient to activate signaling pathways and consequent induction of MT-1 (90, 92, 93), whereas heme uptake is required for activation of HO-1 gene transcription (92, 93). 

HATs catalyze the post-translational acetylation of amino-terminal lysine tails of core histones, which results in disruption of the repressive chromatin folding and an increased DNA accessibility to regulatory proteins. The level of histone acetylation is highly controlled and balanced by the activity of histone deacetylases (HDACs), the opponents of HATs. Generally, acetylation is correlated with activation and deacetylation with repression of gene expression. Therefore, the dynamic equilibrium of these proteins represents a key mechanism of gene regulation. 

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