title: Conserved architecture of the core RNA polymerase II initiation complex.
abstract: During transcription initiation at promoters of protein-coding genes, RNA polymerase (Pol) II assembles with TBP, TFIIB and TFIIF into a conserved core initiation complex that recruits additional factors. The core complex stabilizes open DNA and initiates RNA synthesis, and it is conserved in the Pol I and Pol III transcription systems. Here, we derive the domain architecture of the yeast core pol II initiation complex during transcription initiation. The yeast complex resembles the human initiation complex and reveals that the TFIIF Tfg2 winged helix domain swings over promoter DNA. An 'arm' and a 'charged helix' in TFIIF function in transcription start site selection and initial RNA synthesis, respectively, and apparently extend into the active centre cleft. Our model provides the basis for further structure-function analysis of the entire transcription initiation complex.
authors.affiliation: 1] Gene Center Munich and Department of Biochemistry, Center for Integrated Protein Science CIPSM, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Feodor-Lynen-Strasse 25, 81377 Munich, Germany [2] [3].
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mühlbacher
authors.affiliation: 1] Gene Center Munich and Department of Biochemistry, Center for Integrated Protein Science CIPSM, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Feodor-Lynen-Strasse 25, 81377 Munich, Germany [2] [3].
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sainsbury
authors.affiliation: Gene Center Munich and Department of Biochemistry, Center for Integrated Protein Science CIPSM, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Feodor-Lynen-Strasse 25, 81377 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hemann
authors.affiliation: Gene Center Munich and Department of Biochemistry, Center for Integrated Protein Science CIPSM, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Feodor-Lynen-Strasse 25, 81377 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Merle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hantsche
authors.affiliation: 1] Gene Center Munich and Department of Biochemistry, Center for Integrated Protein Science CIPSM, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Feodor-Lynen-Strasse 25, 81377 Munich, Germany [2].
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Neyer
authors.affiliation: Gene Center Munich and Department of Biochemistry, Center for Integrated Protein Science CIPSM, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Feodor-Lynen-Strasse 25, 81377 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Franz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Herzog
authors.affiliation: 1] Gene Center Munich and Department of Biochemistry, Center for Integrated Protein Science CIPSM, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Feodor-Lynen-Strasse 25, 81377 Munich, Germany [2].
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cramer
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D039642:Eukaryotic Initiation Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D035463:Pol1 Transcription Initiation Complex Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary / Q000235:genetics; D012319:RNA Polymerase II / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics*; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics*; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics*; D019473:Transcription Factors, TFII / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D061785:Transcription Initiation, Genetic / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D039642:Eukaryotic Initiation Factors; D035463:Pol1 Transcription Initiation Complex Proteins; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D019473:Transcription Factors, TFII; D012319:RNA Polymerase II; C056604:transcription factor TFIIF