Purification of Transcription Factors and Identification with Mass Spectrometry

Transcription factors are a large and diverse group of proteins which bind to DNA response elements in the promoters of genes either activating or repressing gene expression. The purification and characterization of transcription factors has been improving at a rapid pace. New purification techniques, including oligonucleotide trapping, and improved methods of detection, including chromatin immunoprecipitation have been combined with improved characterization using mass spectrometry methods. Here, we review and give examples of many of these recent advances.