Yeast TAFIIS in a multisubunit complex required for activated transcription.
In higher eukaryotes the RNA polymerase II transcription factor TFIID is composed of a TATA-box-binding protein (TBP) and a set of tightly bound polypeptides, designated TBP-associated factors (TAFIIS). One or more TAFIIS are coactivators that are required for activated but not basal transcription. The eukaryotic transcription machinery is highly conserved and it is therefore puzzling that TAFIIS have not been identified in yeast. Here we use TBP as a protein-affinity ligand to isolate from yeast a multisubunit complex that is required specifically for activated transcription by RNA polymerase II. Microsequence analysis and cloning of two subunits of this complex reveal that they are the homologues of known mammalian and Drosophila TAFIIS. The genes encoding these two yeast TAFIIS are essential, suggesting that activated transcription is required for viability of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Reese
J C
JC
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester 01605.
Apone
L
L
Walker
S S
SS
Griffin
L A
LA
Green
M R
MR
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004330:Drosophila; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012319:RNA Polymerase II / Q000378:metabolism; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D016385:TATA Box; D035381:TATA-Binding Protein Associated Factors; D035181:TATA-Box Binding Protein; D035362:Transcription Factor TFIID; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D035165:Transcription Factors, General; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D035602:Transcriptional Elongation Factors
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D008024:Ligands; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; C087176:TAF2 protein, S cerevisiae; D035381:TATA-Binding Protein Associated Factors; D035181:TATA-Box Binding Protein; D035362:Transcription Factor TFIID; D014157:Transcription Factors; D035165:Transcription Factors, General; D035602:Transcriptional Elongation Factors; C018648:transcription factor S-II; D012319:RNA Polymerase II