Can the Concentration of a Transcription Factor Affect Gene Expression?

DNA is the ultimate molecule that encodes life through genes. Genes positioned along meter-long have to be expressed at right time and in amount via strict regulatory processes. Regulation of a gene starts with binding DNA-binding protein known as transcription factor (TF) target element double-stranded molecule. Often, TFs attach sequence-specific manner can motifs various lengths, yet some also interact nonspecifically. The resulting DNA-TF complexes control expression directly controlling recruitment RNA polymerase on sequence. Recent single-molecule experiments added new dimension such mode; lifetime complex (i.e., residence its site) function component. This breakthrough inevitably suggests any physiochemical constituent alter involved regulation. In this perspective, we argue TF protein’s cellular concentration contribute cell-scale activity by modulating DNA-residence protein. Cells achieve either enabling concentration-dependent dissociation mechanism or promoting formation multiprotein-DNA complexes. While our discussion here will consider examples from prokaryotic cells, briefly similar mechanisms could functional eukaryotic cells.