What signifies the function of transcription factors in eukaryotic systems?

Transcription factors play a crucial role in the regulation of gene expression in eukaryotic cells, primarily by assisting in the initiation of transcription. These proteins bind to specific DNA sequences in the promoter regions of genes to facilitate the recruitment of RNA polymerase, the enzyme responsible for copying DNA into RNA. By promoting the assembly of the transcription machinery at the gene's promoter, transcription factors help determine when and how much of a gene is expressed, thus influencing cellular functions and responses.

While some transcription factors can indeed inhibit expression under specific circumstances, their primary function is to support the process of initiating transcription. This distinguishes them significantly from other cellular mechanisms and factors involved in gene expression regulation, as well as from processes like protein synthesis and ribosome formation, which are separate stages in the central dogma of molecular biology.