title: Activation of archaeal transcription by recruitment of the TATA-binding protein.
abstract: The hyperthermophilic archaeon Methanococcus jannaschii encodes two putative transcription regulators, Ptr1 and Ptr2, that are members of the Lrp/AsnC family of bacterial transcription regulators. In contrast, this archaeon's RNA polymerase and core transcription factors are of eukaryotic type. Using the M. jannaschii high-temperature in vitro transcription system, we show that Ptr2 is a potent transcriptional activator, and that it conveys its stimulatory effects on its cognate eukaryal-type transcription machinery from an upstream activating region composed of two Ptr2-binding sites. Transcriptional activation is generated, at least in part, by Ptr2-mediated recruitment of the TATA-binding protein to the promoter.
authors.affiliation: Center for Molecular Genetics and Division of Biological Sciences, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA. mouham@biomail.ucsd.edu
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ouhammouch
authors.forename: Robert E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Dewhurst
authors.forename: Winfried
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hausner
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thomm
authors.forename: E Peter
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Geiduschek
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical; D017017:Methanococcus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D035181:TATA-Box Binding Protein / Q000502:physiology*; D015533:Transcriptional Activation / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D035181:TATA-Box Binding Protein; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical