Control of Genetic Expression in

Eukaryotes
(Transcriptional Level Control)
By
Merlina Sinaga
4143342025
Bilingual Education Study Program 2014
 Eukaryotic gene control: general
principles
• Unlike bacterial cells and most single cell
eukaryotes, cells in multicellular organisms have
relatively few genes that are directly and
reversibly regulated by environmental conditions
• Instead multicellular organisms have many
different, specialized cells. Hence, tissue-specific
gene controls important for development and
differentiation
• Eukaryotic regulatory elements are usually
several kB away from the promoter
Overview of the levels of control of
gene expression
Overview of eucaryotic transcription
control
 Transcription initiation

• RNA polymerases initiates transcription of most genes at a unique

DNA position lying upstream of the coding sequence
• The base pair where transcription initiates is termed the
transcription-initiation start site (TSS)
• By convention, the TSS in the DNA sequence is designated +1,
andbase pairs extending in the direction of transcription
(downstream) are assigned positive numbers and those extending in
the opposite direction (upstream)are assigned negative numbers
• Various proteins (RNA polymerase, activators, repressors) interact
with DNA at the promoter or several kilobases distant to the
promoter to regulate transcription initiation
• The DNA sequences (response elements) that bind regulatory
proteins are Cisactingsequences. The regulatory proteins are
generally coded by a different gene, hence they are Trans-
actingfactors
 Regulatory sequences in protein-
coding genes
• Multiple protein-binding control regions are located close
to (proximal) or far from (distal) the transcription start site
(TSS)
a. Promoters direct binding of RNA pol II to DNA, determine
the site of transcription initiation (the beginning of the
pre-mRNA), and influence transcription rate
b. Promoter proximal elements occur within ~ 200 base pairs
upstream of TSS. Several such may help regulate a gene
c. Promoter proximal elements and enhancers (often distal)
often are cell-type specific, functioning only in speific
differentiated cell-types Each gene can be regulated by
many different control elements
The three eucaryoticnuclear RNA polymerases are each
responsible for transcription of a subset of genes
 Regulatory sequences in protein coding
genes

• RNA Pol II binding site

(The site where the RNA polymerase pre-
initiation complex (PIC) assembles)
 TATA boxesare found in ~ 30% of all protein
coding genes
 Other Initiator elementshave been found in some
of the other genes (current research still
identifies new (often developmental specific!)
elements
 CpG-islands(G-C rich DNA sequences) are often
found in common housekeeping genes
Initiation of transcription by means of
general transcription factors
 References
• Albert, B., Johnson, A., Lewis, J., Morgan, D., Raff, M., Robert, K.,
Walter, P (2015). Molecular Biology of the Cell (6th edition).
Philadelphia: Garland Science/ Taylor & Francis Group.
• Karp, Gerald (2010). Cell and Molecular Biology (6th edition). USA:
John Wiley & Sons, INC.
• Borden, K. 2016. Translation.The eukaryotic translation initiation
factor eIF4E wears a “cap” for many occasions. Vol. 4 No.2
• Matoulkova, E. 2012. Landes Bioscience. The role of the
3' untranslated region in post transcriptional regulation of protein
expression in mammalian cells. Volume 9 Issue 5
• Wittkopp, P.J. 2007. The Journal of Experimental Biology. Variable
gene expression in eukaryotes: a network perspective. Vol 210,
1567-1575