title: RNA polymerase II-associated proteins are required for a DNA conformation change in the transcription initiation complex.
abstract: Proteins purified on the basis of their affinity for RNA polymerase II effectively substitute for previously defined transcription initiation factors. In two assays, formation of initiation complexes and transcription in vitro, the RNA polymerase II-associated proteins behaved identically to a fraction containing transcription factors IIE and IIF. Both fractions greatly stabilized the association of polymerase with the promoter and were required for the formation of complete initiation complexes. By using the DNA-cleaving reagent phenanthroline.copper in footprinting reactions, the RNA polymerase II-associated proteins were shown to be required for a DNA conformation change near the initiation site of the promoter. Based on similarity to the prokaryotic transcription complex, this conformation change is likely to represent a transition from a closed to an open complex.
authors.affiliation: Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Buratowski
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sopta
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Greenblatt
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Sharp
mesh_terms: D002482:Cellulose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D006367:HeLa Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012319:RNA Polymerase II / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D035581:Transcription Factor TFIIB; D035362:Transcription Factor TFIID; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D019473:Transcription Factors, TFII; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: C033190:DNA-cellulose; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D035581:Transcription Factor TFIIB; D035362:Transcription Factor TFIID; D014157:Transcription Factors; D019473:Transcription Factors, TFII; C066644:transcription factor TFIIE; D002482:Cellulose; D004247:DNA; D012319:RNA Polymerase II