Function of TAF(II)-containing complex without TBP in transcription by RNA polymerase II.
Initiation of transcription of a gene from a core promoter region by RNA polymerase II requires the assembly of several initiation factors to form a preinitiation complex. Assembly of this complex is thought to be nucleated exclusively by the sequence-specific binding of the TFIID transcription factor complex, which is composed of the TATA-binding protein (TBP) and TBP-associated factors (TAF(II)s), to the different promoters. Here we isolate and characterize a new multiprotein complex that does not contain either TBP or a TBP-like factor but is composed of several TAF(II)s and other proteins. This complex can replace TFIID on both TATA-containing and TATA-lacking promoters in in vitro transcription assays. Moreover, an anti-TBP antibody that inhibits TBP- and TFIID-dependent transcription does not inhibit activity of this new complex. These results indicate that TBP-free RNA polymerase II mediated transcription may be able to occur in mammalian cells and that multiple preinitiation complexes may play an important role in regulating gene expression.
Wieczorek
E
E
Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, CNRS/INSERM/ULP, Illkirch, CU de Strasbourg, France.
Brand
M
M
Jacq
X
X
Tora
L
L
D018983:DNA Footprinting; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D012319:RNA Polymerase II / Q000378:metabolism*; D035381:TATA-Binding Protein Associated Factors; D035181:TATA-Box Binding Protein; D035362:Transcription Factor TFIID; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology*; D019473:Transcription Factors, TFII / Q000502:physiology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D015533:Transcriptional Activation
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C089768:TAF10 protein, human; D035381:TATA-Binding Protein Associated Factors; D035181:TATA-Box Binding Protein; D035362:Transcription Factor TFIID; D014157:Transcription Factors; D019473:Transcription Factors, TFII; D012319:RNA Polymerase II