Enhancers are short regions of DNA that can significantly increase the transcription of genes. They function by binding to specific transcription factors and looping to interact with promoters, even if located far away.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
Enhancers can be located thousands of base pairs away from the gene they regulate.
They function in an orientation-independent manner, meaning they work regardless of their direction.
Enhancers often contain multiple binding sites for transcription factors.
The looping mechanism allows enhancers to come in close proximity with promoters despite large intervening sequences.
Mutations in enhancer sequences can lead to diseases or developmental disorders due to misregulation of gene expression.