Difference between promoter and transcription factor biding site?

Question

[araujopa]

First of all, sorry if this is not the place for this kind of question or even if it's a silly question... Anyway... I came across these two terms: "promoters" and "transcription factor biding site (TFBS)". I get the concept of promoters and as far as I've read, TFBS are the same thing as promoters. However, since is my thesis, I cannot have this kind of doubt. So, is there any difference between those terms?

Thanks.

Answer 1

[Jean-Karim Heriche]

A promoter is the sequence generally located 5' of the transcription start site that controls transcription. A transcription factor is a protein that is generally involved in transcribing DNA into RNA. Often the term is used in a more restricted way to design proteins directly involved in controlling the expression of a gene. Some transcription factors bind DNA directly in the promoter region which can contain multiple transcription factor binding sites. Other transcription factor binding sites are not part of the promoter and can be located far away from the locus they control.

[araujopa]

Thanks! I guess I understand those concepts better now.