_____ proteins bind _____, and they work to increase transcription.

_____ proteins bind _____, and they work to increase transcription.

• A. Repressors; Silencers
• B. Activators; Enhancers
• C. Transcription factors; Promoters
• D. Enhancers; Promoters

Answer: (B)

Activators bind enhancers to boost transcription. Activator proteins are transcription factors whose job is to increase gene expression by attaching to enhancer sequences. Enhancers can be located far from the gene they regulate, yet they raise transcription by helping recruit the transcriptional machinery and coactivators, and often by looping the DNA so the enhancer interacts with the promoter. This connection makes transcription more likely to proceed. Repressors, in contrast, bind silencers and decrease transcription, so that option isn’t about increasing transcription. Transcription factors can interact with promoters, but the statement specifically pairs activators with enhancers to describe the upregulation mechanism, which is why that pairing is the best fit. enhancers don’t directly bind promoters; rather, activators bound to enhancers influence promoter activity through looping and recruitment of machinery.

Activators bind enhancers to boost transcription. Activator proteins are transcription factors whose job is to increase gene expression by attaching to enhancer sequences. Enhancers can be located far from the gene they regulate, yet they raise transcription by helping recruit the transcriptional machinery and coactivators, and often by looping the DNA so the enhancer interacts with the promoter. This connection makes transcription more likely to proceed.

Repressors, in contrast, bind silencers and decrease transcription, so that option isn’t about increasing transcription. Transcription factors can interact with promoters, but the statement specifically pairs activators with enhancers to describe the upregulation mechanism, which is why that pairing is the best fit. enhancers don’t directly bind promoters; rather, activators bound to enhancers influence promoter activity through looping and recruitment of machinery.