Final answer:
Activators and repressors interact with specific DNA sites to control the rate of transcription initiation by either promoting or suppressing transcription. They can change the relationship between transcription factors, nucleosomes, and the transcription complex.
Step-by-step explanation:
Activators and repressors influence the rate of transcription initiation by interacting with specific DNA sites adjacent to the genes they control. Activators enhance the interaction of RNA polymerase with the promoter, promoting transcription. Repressors, on the other hand, physically block RNA polymerase from transcribing structural genes, thereby suppressing transcription. These regulatory molecules can change the relationship between transcription factors, nucleosomes, and the transcription complex, ultimately controlling the rate of transcription initiation.