Universal scaling law: transcription factors homeostatically control promoter activity
Abstract
A recent study published in Science by Parisutham et al. 1 revealed a universal principle governing transcription factor (TF) function in E. coli , demonstrating that highly diverse TFs regulate gene expression through a common stabilizing mechanism with RNA polymerase (RNAP). This mechanism uniquely renders an inverse scaling relationship between TF-mediated fold change and constitutive promoter strength, enabling homeostatic buffering of gene expression against genetic and environmental perturbations. These fundamental findings challenge classical models of TF action unexpectedly 2 and offer a unified framework for predicting transcriptional regulation across biological contexts.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Genomics and Chromatin Dynamics
Developmental Biology and Gene Regulation
Protein Kinase Regulation and GTPase Signaling
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy
- Volume
- 11
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 10–10
- Publication date
- 8 January 2026
- Language
- EN