Page "Transcription factor" Paragraph 19

Transcription factors ( like all proteins ) are transcribed from a gene on a chromosome into RNA, and then the RNA is translated into protein.

Any of these steps can be regulated to affect the production ( and thus activity ) of a transcription factor.

One interesting implication of this is that transcription factors can regulate themselves.

For example, in a negative feedback loop, the transcription factor acts as its own repressor: If the transcription factor protein binds the DNA of its own gene, it will down-regulate the production of more of itself.

This is one mechanism to maintain low levels of a transcription factor in a cell.