Regulation of gene expression

Regulation of gene expression is the control of when, where, and how much RNA or protein a gene produces. It operates at multiple stages, from DNA accessibility to protein turnover.

Transcription factor: A protein that binds specific DNA sequences or other proteins to regulate transcription. Transcription factors activate or repress genes by recruiting or blocking transcription machinery.
Gene: A DNA sequence whose expression produces a functional RNA or contributes to a functional product. Regulation changes the output of genes, including protein-coding and noncoding genes.
Cell differentiation: The process by which a cell acquires a specialized identity and functions. Different expression programs give cell types distinct structures and roles despite shared DNA.
Cancer: A group of diseases in which abnormal cells grow and spread through dysregulated biological processes. Cancer can arise when oncogenes are overexpressed or tumor-suppressor genes are silenced.
Constitutive expression: Gene expression that occurs continuously under a given set of conditions. It contrasts with regulated expression that varies with signals, cell type, or developmental state.
Promoter: A DNA region where RNA polymerase and associated factors assemble to begin transcription. Promoter sequence and bound factors help determine where transcription starts and how often.
RNA polymerase: An enzyme that synthesizes RNA using a DNA template. Its recruitment and activity are central control points for transcription.
Developmental biology: The study of how organisms grow and form functional structures across their life cycles. Changing gene activity in space and time directs tissue patterning and development.
Epigenetics: The study of heritable changes in gene activity that occur without altering DNA sequence. Epigenetic marks can maintain or alter expression states across cell divisions.
Mutation: A change in the nucleotide sequence of genetic material. Sequence changes alter the DNA itself; regulation can alter output without changing sequence.

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