Transcription factor and DNA molecule. Molecular model of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) transcription factor protein (pink and blue) complexed with a molecule of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid, red and blue). Transcription factors regulate the transcription of DNA to RNA (ribonucleic acid) by the enzyme RNA polymerase. RNA is the intermediate product between a gene and its protein. When glucocorticoid binds to GR, GR enters the cell's nucleus and binds to the DNA, causing an increase in the production of the apoptosis (programmed cell death) protein bax.