What are short regions of DNA that can bind with proteins to promote the expression of other genes called?

Short regions of DNA that can bind with proteins to promote the expression of other genes are referred to as enhancers. Enhancers are regulatory elements located anywhere from a few hundred to thousands of base pairs away from the gene they regulate. They serve as binding sites for transcription factors and other proteins that facilitate the transcription of associated genes, effectively increasing their expression levels.

Enhancers function by looping the DNA so that the proteins bound to them can interact with the transcription machinery located at the promoter region of the gene. This interaction is crucial for ensuring that specific genes are expressed at the right time and level, contributing to the precise regulation of gene expression necessary for proper cellular function and development.