title: Comparing transcriptional initiation by RNA polymerases I and III.
abstract: We comment on the current understanding of transcriptional initiation by RNA polymerases I and III, and look for common modes of operation of these enzymes, emphasizing selected recent developments. These include definitive experiments on the constitution of the human RNA polymerase I transcription factor SL1/TIF-IB, the development of a genetic system for analyzing the function of RNA polymerase I in yeast, the elucidation of the structure of the human snRNA gene transcription factor SNAPc, and initial stages of mapping the protein-protein interactions involved in the assembly of transcriptional initiation complexes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla 92093-0634, USA.
authors.forename: E P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Geiduschek
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Kassavetis
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D012318:RNA Polymerase I / Q000235:genetics*; D012320:RNA Polymerase III / Q000235:genetics*; D012342:RNA, Small Nuclear / Q000235:genetics; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D012342:RNA, Small Nuclear; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D012318:RNA Polymerase I; D012320:RNA Polymerase III