title: Direct recognition of initiator elements by a component of the transcription factor IID complex.
abstract: A core promoter element called an initiator (Inr) overlaps the transcription start site of numerous mammalian protein-coding genes. In promoters that lack a TATA box, the Inr is functionally analogous to TATA, in that it is capable of directing basal transcription by RNA polymerase II and of determining the precise site of transcription initiation. In promoters that contain a TATA box, the Inr can greatly enhance promoter strength. Mammalian Inr consensus sequences have been defined through functional studies and sequence comparisons of the start site regions of protein-coding genes. Here, we show that, in a DNase I footprinting assay with synthetic promoters, the purified TATA-binding protein complex TFIID specifically contacted the Inr. The TFIID-Inr interaction relies on the precise nucleotides needed for Inr function. Detection of the interaction was dependent either on a TATA box or on Sp1 bound to upstream sites. Furthermore, recombinant TFIIB appeared to influence the TFIID-Inr interaction, whereas TFIIA stabilized the TFIID-TATA interaction. These results demonstrate that distinct components of TFIID interact with the TATA boxes and Inr elements of core promoters for RNA polymerase II.
authors.affiliation: Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine 90024-1662.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kaufmann
authors.forename: S T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Smale
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D004247:DNA / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D004253:DNA Nucleotidylexotransferase / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation / Q000502:physiology; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000502:physiology*; D016329:Sp1 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D016385:TATA Box / Q000235:genetics; D035362:Transcription Factor TFIID; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D016329:Sp1 Transcription Factor; D035362:Transcription Factor TFIID; D014157:Transcription Factors; D004247:DNA; D004253:DNA Nucleotidylexotransferase