Final answer:
In the transcription of a eukaryotic gene, Transcription Factors (TFII) are active during the initiation stage, where they form a complex that recruits RNA polymerase II to start the transcription process.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Role of Transcription Factors in Eukaryotic Transcription During the transcription of a eukaryotic gene, Transcription Factors (TFII) are active during the initiation stage. This is the phase where the DNA unwinds and the transcription factors bind to form the initiation complex essential for transcription to start. TFII factors include various proteins, such as TFIID which contains the TATA-binding protein (TBP) that recognizes and binds to the TATA box in the promoter region of a gene. The binding of TBP and other TFII factors to the DNA triggers the recruitment of RNA polymerase II, thus beginning the process of transcribing the DNA template into mRNA.
Unlike prokaryotic transcription which often depends on a simple sigma factor for initiation, eukaryotic transcription relies on a more complex system that involves multiple transcription factors. These basal transcription factors all called TFII (for Transcription Factor/polymerase II) followed by an additional letter (A-J) establish the correct assembly and recruitment of RNA polymerase II to initiate transcription. Details of the termination stage of transcription in eukaryotes are less understood compared to initiation, which is a well-characterized process involving the assembly of multiple transcription factors and the unwinding of DNA enabled by histones.