Recent advances in understanding the structure and function of general transcription factor TFIID.
The general transcription factor TFIID is a macromolecular complex comprising the TATA-binding protein (TBP) and a set of 13-14 TBP associated factors (TAFs). This review discusses biochemical, genetic and electron microscopic data acquired over the past years that provide a model for the composition, organisation and assembly of TFIID. We also revisit ideas on how TFIID is recruited to the promoters of active and possibly repressed genes. Recent observations show that recognition of acetylated and methylated histone residues by structural domains in several TAFs plays an important role. Finally, we highlight several genetic studies suggesting that TFIID is required for initiation of transcription, but not for maintaining transcription once a promoter is in an active state.
Cler
Emilie
E
Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, CNRS/INSERM/ULP, 1 Rue Laurent Fries, 67404, Illkirch Cedex, France.
Papai
Gabor
G
Schultz
Patrick
P
Davidson
Irwin
I
D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008958:Models, Molecular; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D035362:Transcription Factor TFIID / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D006657:Histones; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes; D035362:Transcription Factor TFIID; D004247:DNA