DNA-binding, multivalent interactions and phase separation in transcriptional activation

Transcription is an essential process in biology whereby gene-specific transcription factors target sites on DNA to recruit the basal machinery that will produce messenger RNA (mRNA). It a highly regulated multi-step involves many proteins and protein complexes. factors, mark genes for activation, other transcriptional regulators are enriched low-complexity disordered regions, which strongly linked multivalent binding phase separation. These regions can form dynamic complexes aspects of transcription. Many these separate vitro show evidence separation vivo. Whether interactions represent biologically relevant vivo controversial. However, what events do demonstrate co-cluster with vivo, forming clusters contribute events. We review some recently investigated consider how they our understanding