Gene Expression and Transcriptional Regulation in Eukaryotic Systems
Summary
Gene expression in eukaryotes encompasses a sequence of coordinated events through which genetic information is transcribed from DNA into RNA and, in the case of protein-coding genes, translated into functional proteins. Central to this process is the orchestration of chromatin structure and accessibility, which dictates the recruitment of RNA polymerase II and associated general transcription factors to promoter and enhancer regions. Transcriptional regulation is further refined by sequence-specific transcription factors, epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation and histone post-translational marks, and the activity of chromatin remodellers. Non-coding RNAs, including long non-coding RNAs and microRNAs, add layers of post-transcriptional control. Extracellular signals conveyed via pathways such as MAPK, JAK/STAT and WNT modulate transcription factor activity and chromatin state, thereby linking environmental cues to gene regulatory networks. Advances in single-cell genomics, chromatin conformation capture and live-cell imaging continue to reveal the dynamic interplay between nuclear architecture and transcriptional output. Insights into these mechanisms hold profound implications for understanding development, tissue homeostasis, disease pathogenesis and for the design of novel therapeutic and biotechnological applications.
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Gene Expression and Transcriptional Regulation in Eukaryotic Systems publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in gene expression and transcriptional regulation in eukaryotic systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Transcription factor: A protein that binds specific DNA sequences to regulate gene transcription.
Chromatin accessibility: The degree to which DNA is exposed and available for binding by transcriptional machinery.
Epigenetic modification: A reversible chemical change to DNA or histone proteins that influences gene expression without altering the nucleotide sequence.
Promoter: A DNA region immediately upstream of a gene where RNA polymerase II and general transcription factors assemble to initiate transcription.
Enhancer: A distal DNA element that, when bound by transcription factors, enhances transcriptional activity at a target promoter.
Post-translational modification: A chemical alteration of a protein after its synthesis, affecting its activity, stability or localization.
Non-coding RNA: An RNA molecule that is transcribed from the genome but not translated into protein, often involved in regulating gene expression.
References
- Impact of c-JUN deficiency on thalamus development in mice and human neural models. Cell & Bioscience (2024).
- C/EBPβ: The structure, regulation, and its roles in inflammation-related diseases. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy (2023).
- Examining the role of EGR1 during viral infections. Frontiers in Microbiology (2022).
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