Which of the following proteins is known as a DNA-binding protein?Group of answer choicesTranscription factor16S RNALigaseDNA polymerase

Break Down the Problem

1. Identify the proteins listed: Transcription factor, 16S rRNA, Ligase, DNA polymerase.
2. Determine the role of each protein in relation to DNA.

Relevant Concepts

1. Transcription factor: A protein that binds to specific DNA sequences, regulating the transcription of genetic information from DNA to mRNA.
2. 16S rRNA: A component of the ribosome involved in protein synthesis, not a DNA-binding protein.
3. Ligase: An enzyme that joins DNA strands together but does not typically bind to DNA in a regulatory manner.
4. DNA polymerase: An enzyme that synthesizes DNA molecules from nucleotides, but it also does not primarily bind DNA in a regulatory context like transcription factors.

Analysis and Detail

1. Transcription factors are specifically involved in recognizing and binding to promoter regions on DNA to initiate transcription.
2. The 16S rRNA is part of the ribosome and does not interact directly with DNA.
3. DNA ligase is crucial for DNA replication and repair but is not known primarily for binding DNA.
4. DNA polymerase is involved in DNA replication but is not classified as a DNA-binding protein in the traditional sense.

Verify and Summarize

Among the options given, the transcription factor is explicitly known for its role in binding to DNA to regulate gene expression. Neither 16S rRNA, Ligase, nor DNA polymerase fits the description of a typical DNA-binding protein aimed at regulating transcription.

Final Answer

The protein known as a DNA-binding protein is the Transcription factor.