Gal4 transcription factor

In yeast cells, the principal targets are GAL1 (galactokinase), GAL10 (UDP-glucose 4-epimerase), and GAL7 (galactose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase), three enzymes required for galactose metabolism.

This binding has also proven useful in constructing the GAL4/UAS system, a technique for controlling expression in insects.

It forms a Zn – cysteines thiolate cluster,[5][6] and specifically recognizes UASG in GAL1 promoter.

[7][8] Localised to the C-terminus, belongs to the nine amino acids transactivation domain family, 9aaTAD, together with Oaf1, Pip2, Pdr1, Pdr3, but also p53, E2A, MLL.

In the GAL4/UAS system, the Gal4 protein and Gal4 upstream activating region (UAS) are used to study the gene expression and function in organisms such as the fruit fly.