Cis-regulatory element
Cis-regulatory element
Cis-regulatory elements (pronounced: sis-reg-yuh-luh-tor-ee el-uh-muhnts) are regions of non-coding DNA that regulate the transcription of nearby genes. The term "cis" in cis-regulatory element originates from the Latin word "cis", meaning "on this side".
Etymology
The term "cis-regulatory element" is derived from the Latin word "cis", which means "on this side". This is in contrast to "trans", which means "across". In the context of genetics, "cis" refers to elements that are on the same chromosome as the gene they regulate, while "trans" refers to elements that can regulate genes on any chromosome.
Function
Cis-regulatory elements function as the binding sites for transcription factors. These elements are crucial for the precise spatial and temporal control of gene expression. They can be located upstream, downstream, or within the gene they regulate. The most common types of cis-regulatory elements include promoters, enhancers, silencers, and insulators.
Types of Cis-regulatory elements
- Promoters: These are located upstream of the gene and provide a binding site for RNA polymerase and other transcription factors. They are crucial for initiating transcription.
- Enhancers: These can be located upstream, downstream, or within the gene they regulate. They enhance the rate of transcription by providing additional binding sites for transcription factors.
- Silencers: These are similar to enhancers but they decrease the rate of transcription.
- Insulators: These block the effect of enhancers or silencers on a gene when placed between them.
Related Terms
- Transcription factors: Proteins that bind to cis-regulatory elements to control the rate of transcription of DNA to mRNA.
- Gene expression: The process by which the information encoded in a gene is used to direct the assembly of a protein molecule.
- Non-coding DNA: DNA that does not code for any proteins but has other important functions, such as regulating gene expression.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Cis-regulatory element
- Wikipedia's article - Cis-regulatory element
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