Functional differences between yeast and human TFIID are localized to the highly conserved region.
TFIID, the general transcription factor that binds TATA promoter elements, is highly conserved throughout the eukaryotic kingdom. TFIIDs from different organisms contain C-terminal core domains that are at least 80% identical and display similar biochemical properties. Despite these similarities, yeast cells containing human TFIID instead of the endogenous yeast protein grow extremely poorly. Surprisingly, this functional distinction reflects differences in the core domains, not the divergent N-terminal regions. The N-terminal region is unimportant for the essential function(s) of yeast TFIID because expression of the core domain permits efficient cell growth. Analysis of yeast-human hybrid TFIIDs indicates that several regions within the conserved core account for the phenotypic difference, with some regions being more important than others. This species specificity might reflect differences in DNA-binding properties and/or interactions with activator proteins or other components of the RNA polymerase II transcription machinery.
Cormack
B P
BP
Department of Biological Chemistry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
Strubin
M
M
Ponticelli
A S
AS
Struhl
K
K
D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D005075:Biological Evolution; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D005800:Genes, Fungal; D006801:Humans; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D010957:Plasmids; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics*; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D016385:TATA Box; D035362:Transcription Factor TFIID; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D035362:Transcription Factor TFIID; D014157:Transcription Factors