Transcription factors and evolution: An integral part of gene expression (Review)

Mitsis,Thanasis; Efthimiadou,Aspasia; Bacopoulou,Flora; Vlachakis,Dimitrios; Chrousos,George   P.; Eliopoulos,Elias

doi:10.3892/wasj.2020.32

Transcription factors and evolution: An integral part of gene expression (Review)

Authors:
- Thanasis Mitsis
- Aspasia Efthimiadou
- Flora Bacopoulou
- Dimitrios Vlachakis
- George P. Chrousos
- Elias Eliopoulos
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Affiliations: Genetics and Computational Biology Group, Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece, Hellenic Agricultural Organization‑Demeter, Institute of Soil and Water Resources, Department of Soil Science of Athens, 13561 Athens, Greece, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, ‘Aghia Sophia’ Children's Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece
Published online on: January 17, 2020 https://doi.org/10.3892/wasj.2020.32
Pages: 3-8
Copyright: © Mitsis et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Gene expression is a complex process that is essential to living organisms. Gene expression plays the important role of converting information that is encoded in a gene into a functional product. The primary regulators of gene expression are transcription factors (TFs). TFs are proteins that can bind specific DNA sequences and regulate gene expression. Their evolution is influenced by a large number of factors, including epigenetic mechanisms, gene regulatory elements and molecular cofactors. These molecular mediators, along with transcription factors, form a network that governs gene expression. Elucidating the mechanisms through which TFs have evolved and how they influence the evolution of other regulatory molecules can provide information on organism evolution and on the development of phenotypic variations. The aim of this review article was to provide a summary of the current literature on transcription factor evolution, function and how such evolution has played an important role in the emergence of complex organisms.

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