Promoters

The DNA region or sequence that helps in initiating transcription is known as the promoter. RNA polymerase binds to the promoter and further initiates transcription of a gene.

They can be present close to the transcription start site or many kilobases away.

Based on their location they can be characterised as Core/Basal Promoter Elements or the Regulatory Region Elements.

Core/Basal elements include TATA boxes and Initiator Sequences (Inr). CpG islands are also present in mammals.

Regulatory region elements include UAS/enhancer elements and URS/silencer elements.

Other promoters are Downstream Promoter elements (DPE) and BRE (TFIIB recognition element).