In the field of
molecular biology, transrepression is a process whereby one
protein represses (i.e., inhibits) the activity of a second protein through a
protein-protein interaction. Since this repression occurs between two different protein molecules (
intermolecular
An intermolecular force (IMF) (or secondary force) is the force that mediates interaction between molecules, including the electromagnetic forces of attraction
or repulsion which act between atoms and other types of neighbouring particles, e.g. a ...
), it is referred to as a
trans-acting process.
The protein that is repressed is usually a
transcription factor whose function is to up-regulate (i.e., increase) the rate of
gene transcription
Transcription is the process of copying a segment of DNA into RNA. The segments of DNA transcribed into RNA molecules that can encode proteins are said to produce messenger RNA (mRNA). Other segments of DNA are copied into RNA molecules called ...
. Hence the net result of transrepression is down regulation of gene transcription.
An example of transrepression is the ability of the
glucocorticoid receptor to inhibit the transcriptional promoting activity of the
AP-1 and
NF-κB transcription factors.
In addition to
transactivation In the context of gene regulation: transactivation is the increased rate of gene expression triggered either by biological processes or by artificial means, through the expression of an intermediate transactivator protein.
In the context of recep ...
, transrepression is an important pathway for the
anti-inflammatory
Anti-inflammatory is the property of a substance or treatment that reduces inflammation or swelling. Anti-inflammatory drugs, also called anti-inflammatories, make up about half of analgesics. These drugs remedy pain by reducing inflammation as op ...
effects of
glucocorticoids.
Other
nuclear receptors such as
LXR and
PPAR
In the field of molecular biology, the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are a group of nuclear receptor proteins that function as transcription factors regulating the expression of genes. PPARs play essential roles in the reg ...
have been demonstrated to also have the ability to transrepress the activity of other proteins.
See also
*
Selective glucocorticoid receptor agonist
References
Molecular biology
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