Lecture Molecular biology (Fifth Edition): Chapter 11 - Robert F. Weaver

Chapter 11 - general transcription factors in eukaryotes. Eukaryotic RNA polymerases, unlike their bacterial counterparts, are incapable of binding by themselves to their respective promoters. Instead, they rely on proteins called transcription factors to show them the way. Such factors are grouped into two classes: general transcription factors and gene-specifi c transcription factors (activators). In this chapter we will survey the general transcription factors that interact with all three RNA polymerases and their promoters.