Regulation of Gene Expression in Eukaryotes

Abstract

AbstractSimilar to prokaryotes, eukaryotes have also evolved with complex gene regulation mechanisms to control the expression of variety of genes in different cell types. Thousands of proteins orchestrate in a timely manner to ensure the activation and repression of genes in response to internal and external environment. This spatial and temporal precision of gene expression is critical in all biological processes from cell differentiation to cell death, while deregulation of gene expression often leads to disease. The regulation of gene expression happens in several stages including transcription, posttranscription, translation, and posttranslation. This complex regulation involves both cis-acting and trans-acting elements. Cis-acting elements are present in the coding and noncoding regions of the DNA itself involving remodeling or modifications of the DNA. Trans-acting elements are proteins such as transcription factors and other DNA-binding proteins that enhance or suppress gene expression.