title: Conservation between the RNA polymerase I, II, and III transcription initiation machineries.
abstract: Recent studies of the three eukaryotic transcription machineries revealed that all initiation complexes share a conserved core. This core consists of the RNA polymerase (I, II, or III), the TATA box-binding protein (TBP), and transcription factors TFIIB, TFIIE, and TFIIF (for Pol II) or proteins structurally and functionally related to parts of these factors (for Pol I and Pol III). The conserved core initiation complex stabilizes the open DNA promoter complex and directs initial RNA synthesis. The periphery of the core initiation complex is decorated by additional polymerase-specific factors that account for functional differences in promoter recognition and opening, and gene class-specific regulation. This review outlines the similarities and differences between these important molecular machines.
authors.affiliation: Gene Center and Department of Biochemistry, Center for Integrated Protein Science Munich, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Feodor-Lynen-Strasse 25, 81377 Munich, Germany. alessandro.vannini@icr.ac.uk
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vannini
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cramer
mesh_terms: D017124:Conserved Sequence; D008958:Models, Molecular; D020836:Protein Structure, Quaternary; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D012318:RNA Polymerase I / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D012319:RNA Polymerase II / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D012320:RNA Polymerase III / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D035181:TATA-Box Binding Protein / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D035581:Transcription Factor TFIIB / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D019473:Transcription Factors, TFII / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D035181:TATA-Box Binding Protein; D035581:Transcription Factor TFIIB; D019473:Transcription Factors, TFII; C066644:transcription factor TFIIE; D012319:RNA Polymerase II; D012318:RNA Polymerase I; D012320:RNA Polymerase III; C056604:transcription factor TFIIF