The regulation of transcription factor activity in plants

The predominant mechanism for controlling gene expression in eukaryotes appears to be regulation at the transcriptional level. Transcriptional regulation of gene expression is mediated by transcription factors, which activate or repress transcription. These activators and repressors act through several mechanisms (including DNA-protein interactions, protein-protein interactions and modification of the chromatin structure) and are themselves regulated in a variety of ways. Using various modes, a single transcription factor can influence the transcription of different target genes. Recent research on these regulatory mechanisms in plants has provided insight into the underlying processes.