Enhancers and response elements

[rockind78]

What is the difference exactly? Thanks!

 

[iansmith]

Here the definition:

Enhancers

Cis acting DNA sequences that can greatly increase the transcription rates of genes even though they may be far upstream or downstream from the promoter they stimulate.

http://fred.hmc.psu.edu/ds/retrieve/fred/meshdescriptor/D020218

responce elements

Nucleotide sequences, usually upstream, which are recognized by specific regulatory transcription factors, thereby causing gene response to various regulatory agents. These elements may be found in both promoter and enhancer regions.

http://www.geneed.com/glossary/r/index.html

The differemce are not easy to see because they sound the same but the specificity is important. A responce element can have a role in repression of a gene whereas enhancers only stimulates the production. Responce elements are only upstream of a gene and will have a effect on the binding and action of RNA polymerase.

 

[Monique]

Originally posted by iansmith
Responce elements are only upstream of a gene and will have a effect on the binding and action of RNA polymerase.

Why are response elements only upstream? According to the link response elements can both be in the promotor and enhancer regions, enhancer regions can both be up or downstream of a promotor.. :)

For instance: if a molecule binds downstream and causes the DNA to loop a certain way, the polymerase can't go further and will be released. That is how stop signals in bacteria work right?

 

[spuriousmonkey]

I don't know, but in my field enhancers can also repress. They sometimes call them repressors, but sometimes not. It is all about combinatorial control anyway.

 

[iansmith]

Originally posted by Monique
Why are response elements only upstream?

my mistake, should of said mostly

Originally posted by Monique
[BFor instance: if a molecule binds downstream and causes the DNA to loop a certain way, the polymerase can't go further and will be released. That is how stop signals in bacteria work right? [/B]

Yeah but the gene has been transcribed whereas with these elements will stop or increase expression.

 

[Monique]

Originally posted by iansmith
Yeah but the gene has been transcribed whereas with these elements will stop or increase expression.

I was just giving proof of concept if such elements were somewhere within a gene, a truncated product will be synthesized and rapidly degraded..

 

[Monique]

Very good review article (I think.. have been trying to print it for the 2 1/2 hours... )

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/...ve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11040209&dopt=Abstract

Orchestrated response: a symphony of transcription factors for gene control.
Genes Dev

 

[rockind78]

That does look good. If you don't get it let me know.

 

[Monique]

4pm: It printed! Stupid computers here..

Hm, this article looks usefull :) I'll try to stay awake in the train this time..

ps. how do they get an article to be 4 Mb? The figures are only 55 kb each.. crazy.