promotor

Promotor is a spelling variant of promoter used in several languages and fields. Its meaning depends on context, and the term may refer to genetics, event promotion, or academic supervision. In English-language texts, "promoter" is the standard form, while "promotor" appears in non-English usage or specialized terms.

In molecular biology, a promoter is a DNA sequence located upstream of a gene that serves as the binding site for RNA polymerase and transcription factors. It marks the transcription start site and regulates expression level. Bacterial promoters typically contain recognizable -35 and -10 elements recognized by sigma factors, while eukaryotic promoters often feature motifs such as the TATA box, initiator elements, and CpG-rich regions. Promoters are central to gene regulation and are common targets for genetic engineering, where synthetic or inducible promoters enable controlled gene expression.

An event promotor is a person or organization that plans and promotes public events, such as concerts, festivals, or trade shows. Promotors arrange venues, negotiate with artists and agents, supervise marketing and ticket sales, obtain permits and insurance, and oversee logistics. They may work with talent agencies and venues on a fee or revenue-share basis and assume financial risk if events fail to meet forecasts. In some contexts the term overlaps with organizer or producer.

In academia, especially in Dutch or German-speaking contexts, a promotor is the doctoral supervisor who guides a candidate through research and writing, approves the thesis plan, and participates in the defense process. The promotor may be joined by one or more co-promotors responsible for different aspects of supervision.

Because promotor appears in multiple languages with distinct meanings, the intended sense is usually deduced from the field and country of use.