Promoter regions are specific sequences of DNA located near the start of a gene. They play a crucial role in initiating the process of transcription, where the gene's information is copied into RNA. These regions contain binding sites for proteins called transcription factors, which help recruit the enzyme RNA polymerase to begin synthesizing RNA. The structure of promoter regions can vary between different genes and organisms. In eukaryotes, promoters often include a core promoter, which is essential for basic transcription, and additional regulatory elements that can enhance or suppress gene expression. Understanding promoter regions is vital for studying gene regulation and expression.