General transcription factor
TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR THAT BINDS TO ANY SITE OR TO A SPECIFIC SITE ON DNA TO ACTIVATE, MODERATE, REGULATE, OR MODULATE TRANSCRIPTION
Transcription factors, general; Basal transcription factor; General transcription factors
General transcription factors (GTFs), also known as basal transcriptional factors, are a class of protein transcription factors that bind to specific sites (promoter) on DNA to activate transcription of genetic information from DNA to messenger RNA. GTFs, RNA polymerase, and the mediator (a multi-protein complex) constitute the basic transcriptional apparatus that first bind to the promoter, then start transcription.