Regulation of Gene Expression: Basic Mechanisms

The study of genes and the mechanism whereby the information they hold is converted into proteins and enzymes, hormones, and intracellular signaling molecules is the realm of molecular biology. Except for the erythrocyte, all cells in the body have the same DNA complement. One of the most fascinating aspects of this work is the study of the mechanisms that control differential gene expression, both in time and in place, and the consequences if these control mechanisms are disrupted.
The goal of this chapter is to introduce the basic concepts involved in regulation of protein-coding genes and how these processes are involved in the causation of human disease. The basic mechanism of gene regulation will be described first, followed by a discussion of a specific gene regulation system to highlight various aspects of the basic mechanism. The chapter will end with a discussion of various ways in which the gene regulatory apparatus can be adapted to suit the needs of different tissues and situations.