A typical eukaryotic promoter. General transcription factors and RNA polymerase II bind the promoter, assisted by transcription activators. Activator-binding sites (regulatory sequences) can be distant from the promoter and located either before or after the gene. Activators bind regulatory sequences in DNA directly, whereas coactivators bind activators instead of DNA. Activation of Pol II is mediated by coactivators binding to core subunits of the polymerase through DNA looping.