Pharmacological regulation of transcription factor binding

Abstract

Organisms respond to extracellular stimuli by changing the expression of genes. Stimulation of the cell often induces a cascade of intracellular events that leads to activation of transcription factor DNA-binding complexes which modulate the transcription rate. Many cellular processes including development of the organism are dependent on these proteins to maintain proper levels of mRNA. A diversity of mechanisms has evolved to coordinate transcription factor binding to the specific DNA element which affects mRNA synthesis. Precise regulatory processes are present at the level of transcription, translation and posttranslation. Often, posttranslational processes alter affinities of factors to DNA-binding sites. In this review, the molecular controls of transcription factor binding to DNA will be examined, with specific examples of the pharmacologic regulation of transcription factor binding to DNA.