Biology » Gene Expression » Eukaryotic Epigenetic Gene Regulation

Summarizing Eukaryotic Epigenetic Gene Regulation

Summary

In eukaryotic cells, the first stage of gene expression control occurs at the epigenetic level. Epigenetic mechanisms control access to the chromosomal region to allow genes to be turned on or off. These mechanisms control how DNA is packed into the nucleus by regulating how tightly the DNA is wound around histone proteins. The addition or removal of chemical modifications (or flags) to histone proteins or DNA signals to the cell to open or close a chromosomal region. Therefore, eukaryotic cells can control whether a gene is expressed by controlling accessibility to transcription factors and the binding of RNA polymerase to initiate transcription.

Glossary

transcription factor

protein that binds to the DNA at the promoter or enhancer region and that influences transcription of a gene


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