title: Auto-acetylation of transcription factors as a control mechanism in gene expression.
abstract: We have shown that the human general transcriptional factor IB (TFIIB) auto-acetylates specifically at lysine 238 in the presence of acetyl coenzyme A in vitro. This is the first case of acetylation of a transcription factor in the absence of a factor acetyltransferase (FAT). Acetylation of TFIIB results in a stronger interaction with transcription factor IIF (TFIIF) and activated transcription in vitro. Cells transfected with mutant TFIIB incapable of auto-acetylation show decreased levels of transcription in vitro. If auto-acetylation of TFIIB occurs in cells, acetyl coenzyme A levels may play an important role in the regulation of transcription. In addition, we report for the first time that the RAP30 subunit of TFIIF is also auto-acetylated in the presence of acetyl coenzyme A in a pH-dependent manner, similarly to TFIIB. This finding strongly suggests that auto-acetylation may be more important in regulating gene expression than previously believed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA.
authors.forename: Chu H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Zachary F
authors.initials: ZF
authors.lastname: Burton
authors.forename: Anny
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Usheva
mesh_terms: D000105:Acetyl Coenzyme A / Q000378:metabolism; D000107:Acetylation; D000123:Acetyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D035581:Transcription Factor TFIIB / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D019473:Transcription Factors, TFII / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D035581:Transcription Factor TFIIB; D014157:Transcription Factors; D019473:Transcription Factors, TFII; D000105:Acetyl Coenzyme A; D000123:Acetyltransferases; C056604:transcription factor TFIIF