title: Trajectory of DNA in the RNA polymerase II transcription preinitiation complex.
abstract: By using site-specific protein-DNA photocrosslinking, we define the positions of TATA-binding protein, transcription factor IIB, transcription factor IIF, and subunits of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) relative to promoter DNA within the human transcription preinitiation complex. The results indicate that the interface between the largest and second-largest subunits of RNAPII forms an extended, approximately 240 A channel that interacts with promoter DNA both upstream and downstream of the transcription start. By using electron microscopy, we show that RNAPII compacts promoter DNA by the equivalent of approximately 50 bp. Together with the published structure of RNAPII, the results indicate that RNAPII wraps DNA around its surface and suggest a specific model for the trajectory of the wrapped DNA.
authors.affiliation: Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Biochemistry, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lagrange
authors.forename: Y H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Griffith
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Reinberg
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Ebright
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D004247:DNA; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases