Transcription factors find their targets by reading the epigenetic code

该项目旨在阐明转录因子，即调节基因表达的蛋白质，是如何找到它们的目标基因的。假设非DNA结合区在这一过程中起着重要的作用。该项目希望改变我们对转录因子家族的理解，以及具有相同DNA结合结构域的家族中的转录因子如何调控不同的基因。该项目的预期结果包括揭示辅助蛋白如何通过读取表观遗传标记来帮助转录因子识别其在基因组中的目标。这应该会带来显著的好处，包括改进人工转录因子的设计，以在研究和农业中上调或下调特定基因。

This project aims to elucidate how transcription factors, proteins that regulate gene expression, find their target genes. The hypothesis is that non-DNA binding domains play an essential role in this process. This project expects to transform our understanding of transcription factor families, and how factors in families with the same DNA-binding domain manage to regulate different genes. Expected outcomes of this project include revealing how accessory proteins help transcription factors identify their targets in the genome by reading epigenetic marks. This should provide significant benefits including improved design of artificial transcription factors to up- or down-regulate specific genes in research and agriculture.