Function of TAF(II)-containing complex without TBP in transcription by RNA polymerase II.

Initiation of transcription of a gene from a core promoter region by RNA polymerase II requires the assembly of several initiation factors to form a preinitiation complex. Assembly of this complex is thought to be nucleated exclusively by the sequence-specific binding of the TFIID transcription factor complex, which is composed ...
of the TATA-binding protein (TBP) and TBP-associated factors (TAF(II)s), to the different promoters. Here we isolate and characterize a new multiprotein complex that does not contain either TBP or a TBP-like factor but is composed of several TAF(II)s and other proteins. This complex can replace TFIID on both TATA-containing and TATA-lacking promoters in in vitro transcription assays. Moreover, an anti-TBP antibody that inhibits TBP- and TFIID-dependent transcription does not inhibit activity of this new complex. These results indicate that TBP-free RNA polymerase II mediated transcription may be able to occur in mammalian cells and that multiple preinitiation complexes may play an important role in regulating gene expression.
Mesh Terms:
DNA Footprinting, DNA-Binding Proteins, Hela Cells, Humans, RNA Polymerase II, TATA-Binding Protein Associated Factors, TATA-Box Binding Protein, Transcription Factor TFIID, Transcription Factors, Transcription Factors, TFII, Transcription, Genetic, Transcriptional Activation
Nature
Date: May. 14, 1998
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