Articles By Stephen Jones

ATF-2 is a member of the group of bZip transcription factors. Heterodimer formation between members of the bZip group is common and is believed to add diversity to the cis-acting elements at which binding of the dimers is directed.

DNA methylation, or the addition of methyl groups to cytosine bases in the dinucleotide CpG, is imperative to proper development and regulates gene expression. The methylation pattern involves the enzymatic processes of methylation and demethylation.

Methylation of DNA at cytosine residues plays an important role in regulation of gene expression, genomic imprinting and is essential for mammalian development. Hypermethylation of CpG islands in tumor suppressor genes or hypomethylation of bulk genomic DNA may be linked with development of cancer.

KLF4 also known as gut-enriched Kruppel-like factor (GKLF) acts as a transcriptional activator or repressor depending on the promoter context and/or cooperation with other transcription factors.

OCT4 is a mammalian POU transcription factor expressed by early embryo cells and germ cells. It belongs to the POU transcription factor family.