One of the major actions of hormonal stimuli is the modulation of the expression of the genes. Since the rate of gene transcription is the major determinant of gene expression, the molecular mechanisms by which gene transcription are regulated have gained increasing interest and has become a major topic in Molecular Endocrinology. In this paper, the authors critically reviewed both the theoretical aspects and the applications of the techniques mostly used in the studies of gene transcription. The advantages and caveats of methods used for definition and mapping of 5' regulatory sequences, for testing of DNA-protein interactions, in the identification of the nucleotides required for the interaction with transcription factors and in the cloning of transacting regulatory factors are discussed.
Gene expression regulation; Genetic transcription; Transcription factors; DNA-binding proteins; Promoter regions
