title: Transcription properties of a cell type-specific TATA-binding protein, TRF.
abstract: Eukaryotic cells are thought to contain a single TATA-binding protein (TBP) that directs transcription by cellular RNA polymerases. Here we report a cell type-specific TBP-related factor (TRF) that can form a stable TRF/IIA/IIB TATA DNA complex and substitute for TBP in directing RNA polymerase II transcription in vitro. Transfection studies reveal that TRF can differentially mediate activation by some enhancer proteins but not others. Like TBP, TRF forms a stable complex containing multiple novel subunits, nTAFs. Antibody staining of embryos and polytene chromosomes reveals cell type-specific expression and gene-selective properties consistent with the shaker/male sterile phenotype of trf mutants. These findings suggest TRF is a homolog of TBP that functions to direct tissue- and gene-specific transcription.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley 94720-3204, USA.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takada
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Jacobson
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Lis
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tjian
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000196:embryology; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000737:chemistry; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D004330:Drosophila / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000737:chemistry; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology; D008957:Models, Genetic; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D035182:TATA Box Binding Protein-Like Proteins; D035181:TATA-Box Binding Protein; D035561:Transcription Factor TFIIA; D035581:Transcription Factor TFIIB; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000502:physiology*; D015533:Transcriptional Activation / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D035182:TATA Box Binding Protein-Like Proteins; D035181:TATA-Box Binding Protein; C441408:TBP-related factor, Drosophila; D035561:Transcription Factor TFIIA; D035581:Transcription Factor TFIIB; D014157:Transcription Factors; D004247:DNA