Repression versus activation in the control of gene transcription

Abstract

Studies on the regulation of transcription often focus on mechanisms of transcriptional activation. However, transcriptional repression is also an important factor in the regulation of many genes. Transcription of specific genes can be downregulated in various ways, and examination of a number of different systems has revealed that most or all steps required for transcriptional activation can be interfered with by transcriptional repressors.