Enhancers Are

Question

Enhancers are
A) domains in proteins that enhance gene transcription.
B) special cis regions in the vicinity of a gene to which transcription factors bind.
C) also capable of inhibiting gene transcription.
D) regions along a promoter to which basal transcription factors bind.
E) not able to act over long distances away from the gene.

Accepted Answer

Enhancers are specialized cis-regulatory regions located near a gene to which transcription factors bind, leading to an increase in gene expression. They can act over long distances and can also work in conjunction with other enhancers to fine-tune gene expression levels. Enhancers are not domains in proteins and do not act as binding sites for basal transcription factors, although they can work together with these factors to regulate gene expression. While enhancers are generally associated with enhancing gene expression, they can also act to inhibit transcription in some cases.