DNA binding site

<p>DNA binding sites are a type of <a href="/facts/Binding_site/gd9r9Rw7">binding site</a> found in <a href="/facts/DNA/nB89Iauz">DNA</a> where other molecules may bind. DNA binding sites are distinct from other binding sites in that (1) they are part of a DNA sequence (e.g. a genome) and (2) they are bound by <a href="/facts/DNA-binding_protein/HEMm9eDX">DNA-binding proteins</a>. DNA binding sites are often associated with specialized proteins known as <a href="/facts/Transcription_factors/wro0DPHe">transcription factors</a>, and are thus linked to <a href="/facts/Transcriptional_regulation/UXekWdWb">transcriptional regulation</a>. The sum of DNA binding sites of a specific transcription factor is referred to as its <a href="/facts/Cistrome/wSrM6l6h">cistrome</a>. DNA binding sites also encompasses the targets of other proteins, like <a href="/facts/Restriction_enzymes/Mg0VgkCX">restriction enzymes</a>, site-specific recombinases (see <a href="/facts/Site-specific_recombination/PnSwe5SH">site-specific recombination</a>) and <a href="/facts/Methyltransferase/MIpCDLdh">methyltransferases</a>.
</p><p>DNA binding sites can be thus defined as short DNA sequences (typically 4 to 30 base pairs long, but up to 200 bp for recombination sites) that are specifically bound by one or more <a href="/facts/DNA-binding_protein/HEMm9eDX">DNA-binding proteins</a> or protein complexes. It has been reported that some binding sites have potential to undergo fast evolutionary change.
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DNA binding site open-in-new

DNA binding site