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The archaeal TFIIEα homologue facilitates transcription initiation by enhancing TATA‐box recognition
Author(s) -
Bell Stephen D,
Brinkman Arie B,
van der Oost John,
Jackson Stephen P
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
embo reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.584
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1469-3178
pISSN - 1469-221X
DOI - 10.1093/embo-reports/kve021
Subject(s) - transcription factor ii a , transcription factor ii b , promoter , tata box binding protein , transcription factor ii e , tata box , transcription factor ii d , general transcription factor , rna polymerase ii , biology , transcription (linguistics) , taf2 , transcription factor , tata binding protein , transcription factor ii f , transcription preinitiation complex , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , gene , gene expression , linguistics , philosophy
Transcription from many archaeal promoters can be reconstituted in vitro using recombinant TATA‐box binding protein (TBP) and transcription factor B (TFB)—homologues of eukaryal TBP and TFIIB—together with purified RNA polymerase (RNAP). However, all archaeal genomes sequenced to date reveal the presence of TFE, a homologue of the α‐subunit of the eukaryal general transcription factor, TFIIE. We show that, while TFE is not absolutely required for transcription in the reconstituted in vitro system, it nonetheless plays a stimulatory role on some promoters and under certain conditions. Mutagenesis of the TATA box or reduction of TBP concentration in transcription reactions sensitizes a promoter to TFE addition. Conversely, saturating reactions with TBP de‐sensitizes promoters to TFE. These results suggest that TFE facilitates or stabilizes interactions between TBP and the TATA box.