The GC elements are bound by transcription factors and have similar functions to enhancers.
[2] Some known GC box-binding proteins include Sp1, Krox/Egr, Wilms' tumor, MIGI, and CREA.
[1] The GC box is commonly the binding site for zinc finger proteins.
An alpha helix section of the protein corresponds with a major groove in the DNA.
If residue 18 is a histidine, it will bind to a G, and if residue 18 is a glutamate, it will bind to a C. GC box-binding zinc fingers have between 2 and 4 fingers, making them interact with base pair sequences that are 6 to 8 base pairs in length.