A Handbook of Transcription Factors

The major goal of “A Handbook of Transcription Factors” is to provide a resource encompassing major facets of the molecular biology of TFs. As a Handbook, this volume is intended to provide a broad overview of this increasingly complex field, and is aimed at providing general context rather than fine details of specific examples. After decades of study of TFs at the molecular level, over 100,000 TF-related publications on Medline, hundreds of genome sequences, and continuous technological advances, a comprehensive review on TFs is not possible, even in book format. And since most reviews focus on specific topics, it can be difficult to get a perspective on what is known, what is not known, and what the global problems are. Topics in this book include the TF repertoire in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes, TF targeting and specificity, the properties of regulatory sequence, the interaction of TFs with chromatin, and mechanisms of TF action. The chapters are written by a team of experts, and highlight the current state of knowledge and research, as well as numerous challenges. I hope that this book will serve as a guide and reference for readers of all levels.Contents1 Introduction to “A Handbook of Transcription Factors”2 An Overview of Prokaryotic Transcription Factors3 A Catalogue of Eukaryotic Transcription Factor Types, Their Evolutionary Origin, and Species Distribution4 Function and Evolution of C2H2 Zinc Finger Arrays5 Homeodomain Subtypes and Functional Diversity6 Nuclear Receptors: Small Molecule Sensors that Coordinate Growth, Metabolism and Reproduction7 Methods for Analysis of Transcription Factor DNA-Binding Specificity In Vitro8 Identification of Transcription Factor–DNA Interactions In Vivo9 How Transcription Factors Identify Regulatory Sites in Genomic Sequence10 Transcription Factor Binding Sites and Other Features in Human and Drosophila Proximal Promoters11 Interactions of Transcription Factors with Chromatin12 Transcription Factor Effector Domains13 Large-Scale Nuclear Architecture and Transcriptional Control