Compare the roles of general and specific transcription factors in regulating gene expression.

RNA polymerase requires transcription factors to initiate transcription. Certain transcription factors are necessary for the transcription of all genes; such factors are called general transcription factors.

These factors bind to the DNA sequence within the promoter region or to other transcription factors and RNA polymerase II. This leads to the formation of the pre-initiation complex, which is required to initiate transcription.

However, the transcription rate is slow with the pre-initiation complex and requires specific transcription factors for high transcription rates.

Specific transcription refers to the region of the DNA sequence that is either an enhancer or a repressor. There are certain control elements called proximal and distal control elements. The proximal control elements are located near the promoter, whereas the distal control elements are located near the genes called enhancers.

The binding of the specific transcription factors such as activator or enhancer to the control elements enhances or reduces the transcription process rate.

The general transcription factors are responsible for forming a pre-initiation complex during transcription by binding to the promoters of all genes. The formation of pre-initiation is essential for the RNA polymerase to begin transcription.

On the other hand, the specific transcription factors, either activator or repressor, binds to the promoter or enhancer region of the DNA sequence to either increase or decrease the rate of the transcription process.

Thus, both general and specific transcription factors regulate gene expression.