Final answer:
Transcription factors are the proteins that influence RNA polymerase during gene transcription, assisting in its binding to the promoter and initiating the process of transcription. The correct option is C
Step-by-step explanation:
The protein that influences RNA polymerase in gene transcription is Transcription factors. Transcription factors are pivotal in assisting the binding of RNA polymerase to the promoter, and in eukaryotes, they are required for the recruitment of RNA polymerase II for the initiation of transcription.
These factors include a series of proteins known as basal transcription factors, such as TFIID, which contains the TATA-binding protein (TBP). Their role is to establish a pre-initiation complex that stabilizes the transcription machinery and helps in the accurate transcription of genes.
In prokaryotes, a similar but simpler system exists where sigma factors (♂-factors) associate with RNA polymerase to initiate transcription.