Definition
In molecular biology, a transcription factor (TF) is a protein that controls the rate of transcription of genetic information from DNA to messenger RNA, by binding to a specific DNA sequence. The function of TFs is to regulate—turn on and off—genes in order to make sure that they are expressed in the desired cells at the right time and in the right amount throughout the life of the cell and the organism. Groups of TFs function in a coordinated fashion to direct cell division, cell growth, and cell death throughout life; cell migration and organization during embryonic development; and intermittently in response to signals from outside the cell, such as a hormone. There are approximately 1600 TFs in the human genome, where half of them are C2H2 zinc fingers. Transcription factors are members of the proteome as well as regulome.
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AP-1 (transcription factor)AP-1 transcription factorARID1AARID1BARID2ARID3AARID3BARID4AARNTLARNTL2ASCL1ASCL2ATBF1ATF/CREBATF1ATF3ATF4ATF5ATF6ATF7ATOH1AcetylationAchaete-scute complexActivating protein 2Activating transcription factorActivating transcription factor 2Activator (genetics)AdenineAkt/PKB signaling pathwayAnabolic steroidAndrogen receptorAnkyrin repeatAntennapediaAntibodiesAntibodyApetala 2ApoptosisApoptosis-antagonizing transcription factorApraxia of speechAristaless related homeoboxAryl hydrocarbon receptorAryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocatorAryl hydrocarbon receptor repressorAutocrine signallingAutoimmune diseaseAutoimmune diseasesAutoimmune regulatorB-cell CLL/lymphomaB3 DNA-binding domainB3 domainBACH1BACH2BARHL1BARHL2BARX1BARX2BATF (gene)BBX (gene)BCL11ABCL11BBCL3BCL6BHLHBHLHA9BHLHB2BHLHE41BICD2BLZF1BRN-3BZIPBZIP domainBase pairBasic helix-loop-helixBasic helix-loop-helix leucine zipper transcription factorsBasic zipperBicalutamideBicoid (gene)BiocontrolBody planBrachyuryBrainBrain-specific homeoboxBreast cancerC-FosC-JunC-junC. H. WaddingtonC2H2 zinc-fingerCAMP-dependent pathwayCAMP responsive element modulatorCBFA2T2CBFA2T3CCAAT/enhancer binding protein zetaCDX1CDX2CDX4 (gene)CEBPACEBPBCEBPDCEBPECEBPGCI proteinCLOCKCNBPCOP9 constitutive photomorphogenic homolog subunit 5COUP-TFICOUP-TFIICREBCREB1CREB3CREBL1CRX (gene)CSDA (gene)CTCFCUTL1Calcitriol receptorCalcium signalingCanalisation (genetics)Carbohydrate-responsive element-binding proteinCatabolite activator proteinCcaat-enhancer-binding proteinsCdxCdx protein familyCecilia MoensCell (biology)Cell cycleCell deathCell divisionCell fate determinationCell growthCell membraneCell migrationCell nucleusCell signalingCell surface receptorCellular differentiationChIP-sequencingChemical synapseChicken ovalbumin upstream promoter-transcription factorChristiane Nüsslein-VolhardChromatin Structure Remodeling (RSC) ComplexChromatin immunoprecipitationChromatin remodelingCis-regulatory elementClass II geneCo-receptorCoactivator (genetics)Cofactor (biochemistry)Cold-shock domainCompetitive inhibitionConsensus sequenceConstitutive androstane receptorCore binding factorCorepressor (genetics)Coulomb's lawCpG siteCyclic adenosine monophosphateCytokineCytoplasmCytosineDAX1DBP (gene)DBX1DBX2DIDO1DLX1DLX2DLX3 (gene)DLX4DLX5DLX6DLX gene familyDNADNA-binding domainDNA-binding proteinDNA adenine methyltransferase identificationDNA binding siteDNA damage-inducible transcript 3DNA demethylationDNA sequenceDevelopmental biologyDiabetesDiglycerideDisease management (agriculture)Dominance (genetics)DownregulationDownregulation and upregulationDrug designDual inheritance theoryE2FE2F1E2F2E2F3E2F4E2F5E4F1EBF1EGR1EGR2EGR3EGR4EHF (gene)ELF2ELF4ELF5ELK1ELK3ELK4EMX1EMX2EMX homeogeneEN1 (gene)EN2 (gene)EP300EPAS1ERF (gene)ERG (gene)ERV3ETS1ETS2ETS transcription factor familyETS variant 5ETV1ETV4ETV6Early growth response proteinsElectrophoretic mobility shift assayEndless Forms Most Beautiful (book)Endocrine systemEngrailed (gene)Enhancer (genetics)EomesoderminEpigeneticsEpigenetics in learning and memoryEpistasisEric F. WieschausEstrogenEstrogen-related receptorEstrogen-related receptor alphaEstrogen-related receptor betaEstrogen-related receptor gammaEstrogen receptorEstrogen receptor alphaEstrogen receptor betaEthylene-responsive element binding proteinEukaryoteEvo-devo gene toolkitEvolutionEvolution of sexual reproductionEvolutionary developmental biologyEvolutionary landscapeEvolutionary tinkeringEvolvabilityEvx1Evx2Exocrine glandEyespot (mimicry)FHL1FHL2FHL3FIGLAFLI1FOSBFOSL1FOSL2FOXA1FOXA2FOXA3FOXB2FOXC2FOXD1FOXD2FOXD3FOXD4FOXD4L1FOXD4L3FOXD4L4FOXD4L5FOXD4L6FOXE1FOXE3FOXF1FOXF2FOXG1FOXH1FOXI1FOXI2FOXI3FOXJ1FOXJ2FOXJ3FOXK1FOXK2FOXL1FOXM1FOXN1FOXN2FOXN3FOXN4FOXO1FOXO3FOXO4FOXO6FOXP1FOXP2FOXP3FOXP4FOXQ1FOXR1FOXR2FOXS1FOX proteinsFarnesoid X receptorFitness landscapeFive prime endForkheadForkhead box B1Forkhead box C1Forkhead box L2FormaldehydeFrançois JacobGABPAGATA1GATA2GATA3GATA4GATA5GATA6GATA transcription factorGBX1GBX2GFI1GLI1GLI2GLI3GLIS1GLIS2GRLF1GSX1GSX2GTF2E1GTF2E2GTF2F1GTF2F2GTF2H1GTF2H2GTF2H4GTF2IGTF3AGTF3C1GTF3C2G protein-coupled receptorGap junctionGcn4GeneGene expressionGene regulatory networkGeneral transcription factorGenetic architectureGenetic assimilationGeneticsGene–environment correlationGene–environment interactionGenomeGenomicGenomic imprintingGenotype–phenotype distinctionGerm cell nuclear factorGlucocorticoidGlucocorticoid receptorGoosecoid proteinGrowth factorGsx (gene family)GuanineHAND1HAND2HBP1HES1HES3HES4HES5HES6HES7 geneHESX1HEY1HEY2HEYLHHEXHIC1HIC2HIF1AHIF3AHIVEP1HIVEP2HIVEP3HLF (gene)HLX (gene)HMG-boxHMGAHMGA1HMGA2HMGB1HMGB2HMGB3HMGB4HMGNHMGN1HMGN2HMGN3HMGN4HMX1HMX2HMX3HNF1AHNF1BHOPXHOXA11HOXA13HOXA2HOXA3HOXA4HOXA5HOXA7HOXA9HOXB1HOXB13HOXB2HOXB3HOXB4HOXB5HOXB6HOXB7HOXB8HOXB9HOXC10HOXC11HOXC12HOXC13HOXC4HOXC5HOXC6HOXC8HOXC9HOXD1HOXD10HOXD11HOXD12HOXD13HOXD3HOXD4HOXD8HOXD9HOX geneHSF1HSF2HSF4Heat Shock FactorHeat shock factorHedgehog signaling pathwayHelix-turn-helixHepatocyte nuclear factor 4Hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alphaHepatocyte nuclear factor 4 gammaHepatocyte nuclear factorsHeritabilityHes family bhlh transcription factor 2HeterochronyHeterotopyHigh-mobility groupHippo signaling pathwayHistoneHistone acetyltransferaseHistone deacetylaseHomeoboxHomeobox A1Homeobox A10Homeobox protein NANOGHomeobox protein Nkx-2.5Homeodomain foldHomeotic geneHormoneHormone response elementHox (gene)Hox geneHuman genomeHydrogen bondHypoxia-inducible factorHypoxia inducible factorI-SMADID1ID2ID3 (gene)ID4IFI16IFI35IKZF1IKZF2IKZF3ILF2ILF3ING1ING2ING4IPEX (syndrome)IRF1IRF2IRF3IRF4IRF5IRF6IRF7IRF8IRX1IRX2IRX3IRX4IRX5IRX6Index of evolutionary biology articlesInhibitor of DNA-binding proteinInositol trisphosphateIntegrinInterProInterferon regulatory factorsIntracellular receptorIntracrineIon channelIroquois homeobox factorJAK-STAT signaling pathwayJARID2JASPARJUNBJacques MonodJunDJun dimerization protein 2Juxtacrine signallingKDM3BKDM5AKDM5BKDM5CKDM5DKLF1KLF10KLF11KLF12KLF13KLF14KLF15KLF17KLF2KLF3KLF4KLF5KLF6KLF7KLF8KLF9KinaseKruppel-like factorsKrüppelLBX1LBX2LMX1ALMX1BLYL1Lac operonLac repressorLeafyLearningLeucine zipperLi-Fraumeni syndromeLigand (biochemistry)LipidLipid signalingList of human transcription factorsLiver X receptorLiver X receptor alphaLiver X receptor betaLiver receptor homolog-1Lymphoid enhancer-binding factor 1MADS-boxMAFB (gene)MAFF (gene)MAFGMAFKMAF (gene)MAPK/ERK pathwayMAX (gene)MECP2MEF2BMEF2CMEF2DMEIS1MEIS2MEOX1MEOX2MESP2MKXMLL2MLL3MLLT1MLL (gene)MLX (gene)MNDAMNT (gene)MNX1MODYMSX1MTA1MTA2MTA3MTF1MXD1MXD3MXD4MXI1MYBL2MYB (gene)MYCMYCLMYF5MYF6MYT1Mapper(2)Maternal effectMechanotransductionMedical Subject HeadingsMef2MemoryMessenger RNAMetamerism (biology)Methyl-CpG-binding domainMethylaseMichael Levine (biologist)Microphthalmia-associated transcription factorMineralocorticoid receptorModularity (biology)Molecular biologyMorphogenMorphogenesisMorphogenetic fieldMorphology (biology)Mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 1Mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 2Mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 3Mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 4Mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 5Mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 6Mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 7Mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 9Msh homeobox 2Multicellular organismMultiplex (assay)MutationMycMyelin regulatory factorMyf5MyoDMyocyte-specific enhancer factor 2AMyogenic regulatory factorsMyogeninN-MycNEUROD1NEUROD2NEUROG1NEUROG2NEUROG3NF-kappaBNF-κBNFATNFAT5NFATC1NFATC2NFATC3NFATC4NFE2NFE2L1NFE2L2NFE2L3NFIANFIB (gene)NFIC (gene)NFIL3NFIXNFKB1NFKB2NFYANFYBNFYCNK2 homeobox 1NKX-homeodomain factorNKX2-2NKX2-3NKX3-1NKX3-2NKX6-1NKX6-2NOBOXNPAS1NPAS2NPAS3NRF1NRL (gene)Nature versus nurtureNegative feedbackNeotenyNeuroDNeuroendocrine cellNeurogeninsNeurohormoneNeuronNeuropeptideNeurotransmitterNeutral network (evolution)Notch signalingNotch signaling pathwayNotochord homeobox (NOTO) geneNuclear factor 1Nuclear factor INuclear localization signalNuclear receptorNuclear receptor 4A1Nuclear receptor 4A2Nuclear receptor 4A3Nuclear receptor co-repressor 1NucleosomeNur (biology)OLIG1OLIG2OSR1OTX1Oct-2Oct-4Octamer transcription factorOncogeneOpen Regulatory Annotation DatabaseOperonOrthodenticle homeobox 2OsteoarthritisOvaryOxidative stressP53P53 (protein)P53 p63 p73 familyP73PAR (transcription factor)PAS domainPAX1PAX2PAX3PAX4PAX5PAX6PAX7PAX8PAX9PBX1PBX2PBX3PDX1PER1PER2PER3PHF1PHF10PHF16PHF17PHF20PHF21APHF3PHF6PHF8PHOX2APHOX2BPI3K/AKT/mTOR pathwayPIT-1PITX1PITX2PITX3PKNOX1PKNOX2POU2F1POU3F1POU3F2POU3F4POU4F1POU4F2POU4F3POU domainPOU familyPRDM9PROP1PRRX1PRRX2PapiliotremaParaHoxParacrine signallingPattern formationPax genesPdx1Period (gene)Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptorPeroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alphaPeroxisome proliferator-activated receptor deltaPeroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gammaPfamPhenotypePhenotypic plasticityPheromonePho4PhosphorylationPhotoreceptor cell-specific nuclear receptorPhylogeneticPhylogenetic footprintingPioneer factorPituitary-specific positive transcription factor 1PlacentaPleiotropyPocket protein familyPolygenic inheritancePolyphenismPregnane X receptorProgesterone receptorPromoter (biology)Promotor (biology)Prostate cancerProteinProtein dimerProtein domainsProtein kinase AProtein kinase CProteomeProto-oncogeneQuantitative geneticsR-SMADRAR-related orphan receptorRAR-related orphan receptor alphaRAR-related orphan receptor betaRAR-related orphan receptor gammaRE1-silencing transcription factorRELRELARELBRFX1RFX2RFX3RFX4RFX5RFX6RFXANKRNA polymeraseRUNX1RUNX1T1RUNX2RUNX3Reaction normReceptor (biochemistry)Receptor tyrosine kinaseRecognition sequenceRegional specificationRegulation of gene expressionRegulomeRel homology domainRepressorResistance (ecology)Response elementRetinal homeobox protein RxRetinoblastoma-like protein 1Retinoblastoma-like protein 2Retinoblastoma proteinRetinoic acid receptorRetinoic acid receptor alphaRetinoic acid receptor betaRetinoic acid receptor gammaRetinoid X receptorRetinoid X receptor alphaRetinoid X receptor betaRetinoid X receptor gammaRett syndromeRev-ErbARev-ErbA alphaRev-ErbA betaRho factorRichard LewontinRobustness (evolution)SALL1SALL2SALL3SALL4SATB2SHOX2SIM1SIM2SIN3ASIX1SIX2SIX3SIX4SIX5SMAD (protein)SOX1SOX10SOX11SOX12SOX13SOX14SOX15SOX17SOX18SOX2SOX21SOX3SOX4SOX5SOX6SOX8SOX9SOX gene familySOX genesSP2 (gene)SP4 (gene)SPI1SPIBSREBF1SREBF2SRYSTAT1STAT2STAT3STAT4STAT5STAT6STAT proteinSaccharomyces cerevisiaeScaffold proteinScleraxisSean B. CarrollSecond messenger systemSegmentation (biology)Sequence homologySequence space (evolution)SequencingSerine-threonine kinaseSerum response factorShort-stature homeobox geneSigma factorSignal transducing adaptor proteinSignal transductionSignaling cascadeSmall MafSmall heterodimer partnerSmall moleculeSp1 transcription factorSp7 transcription factorSp8 transcription factorSteroidSteroid hormone receptorSteroidogenic factor 1Sterol regulatory element-binding proteinSterol regulatory element binding proteinStructural Classification of ProteinsStructure specific recognition protein 1Synaptic transmissionT-boxTAL1TAL2TAL effectorTATA-binding proteinTATA binding proteinTBPL1TBR1TBX1TBX19TBX2TBX21TBX22TBX3TBX5 (gene)TCF/LEF familyTCF15TCF3TCF4TCF7TCF7L2TEAD1TEAD2TEAD3TEAD4TET enzymesTFAP2ATFAP2BTFAP2CTFAP2DTFAP2ETFAP4TFCP2TFIIATFIIBTFIIDTFIIETFIIFTFIIHTFIIIATGF beta signaling pathwayTLXTLX1TLX2TLX3TOXTOX2TOX3TOX4TP63TRANSFACTRIM24TSHZ3TamoxifenTcoF-DBTertiary structureTesticular receptorTesticular receptor 2Testicular receptor 4Testis determining factorTet methylcytosine dioxygenase 1Therapeutic gene modulationThree prime endThymineThyroid hormone receptorThyroid hormone receptor alphaThyroid hormone receptor betaTopologically associating domainTouati BenoukrafTrans-activating domainTranscription (biology)Transcription (genetics)Transcription coregulatorTranscription factor-binding siteTranscription factor II ATranscription factor II BTranscription factor II DTranscription factor II ETranscription factor II FTranscription factor II HTranscription preinitiation complexTranscriptional regulationTransgressive segregationTricho-rhino-phalangeal syndrome Type 1Tubby proteinTumor suppressorTumor suppressor geneTwist transcription factorUSF1USF2UbxUpregulationV-erbA-related geneVAX1VAX2VSX1VSX2Van der Waals forceVisual phototransductionWRKY protein domainWT1Western blotWilliam McGinnisWinged-helix transcription factorsWinged helixWnt signaling pathwayXBP1XanthomonasXloxYY1Y box binding protein 1YeTFaSCoZBTB11ZBTB17ZBTB20ZBTB21ZBTB32ZBTB33ZBTB40ZBTB7AZBTB7BZEB1ZEB2ZNF10ZNF143ZNF146ZNF148ZNF19ZNF202ZNF217ZNF219ZNF22ZNF238ZNF239ZNF24ZNF259ZNF267ZNF281ZNF3ZNF300ZNF318ZNF330ZNF33BZNF34ZNF346ZNF35ZNF350ZNF365ZNF366ZNF384ZNF41ZNF423ZNF43ZNF44ZNF451ZNF452ZNF471ZNF593ZNF638ZNF644ZNF649ZNF655ZNF7ZNF74ZNF804AZbtb7Zinc fingerZinc finger and BTB domain-containing protein 16Zinc finger protein 165
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