Repressors

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Proteins that attach to DNA to prevent transcription and hinder gene expression by binding to regulatory regions
2. Molecules that bind to specific DNA sequences to decrease or block the process of copying genetic information into RNA
3. Substances that interact with DNA to stop or reduce the activation of certain genes within a cell

Etymology: "Repressors" is the plural of "repressor", a noun for a molecule that switches off gene activity by binding to DNA and blocking the machinery that would otherwise read a gene. The singular is built from the verb "repress", which comes from Latin "reprimere", to press back or hold down, and the agent suffix "-or" marks the thing that performs the action. In biology the term describes a protein or other molecule doing exactly that: pressing back on a gene so it cannot be expressed.

Synonyms: oppressors, suppressors, controllers, authoritarians, dictators

Antonyms: liberators, emancipators, freedom fighters