Previous Article | Next Article ![]()
Molecular and Cellular Biology, November 1998, p. 6571-6583, Vol. 18, No. 11
Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular
Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10021
Received 23 June 1998/Returned for modification 27 July
1998/Accepted 31 July 1998
TATA-binding protein-associated factors (TAFIIs) within
TFIID control differential gene transcription through interactions with
both activators and core promoter elements. In particular, TAFII150 contributes to initiator-dependent
transcription through an unknown mechanism. Here, we address whether
TAFIIs within TFIID are sufficient, in conjunction with
highly purified general transcription factors (GTFs), for differential
core promoter-dependent transcription by RNA polymerase II and whether
additional cofactors are required. We identify the human homologue of
Drosophila TAFII150 through cognate cDNA
cloning and show that it is a tightly associated component of human
TFIID. More importantly, we demonstrate that the human
TAFII150-containing TFIID complex is not sufficient, in
the context of all purified GTFs and RNA polymerase II, to mediate
transcription synergism between TATA and initiator elements and
initiator-directed transcription from a TAFII-dependent
TATA-less promoter. Therefore, TAFII-promoter interactions
are not sufficient for the productive core promoter-selective functions
of TFIID. Consistent with this finding, we have partially purified
novel cofactor activities (TICs) that potentiate the
TAFII-mediated synergism between TATA and initiator
elements (TIC-1) and TAFII-dependent transcription from
TATA-less promoters (TIC-2 and -3). Furthermore, we demonstrate an
essential function for TFIIA in TIC- and TAFII-dependent basal transcription from a TATA-less promoter. Our results reveal a
parallel between the basal transcription activity of TAFIIs through core promoter elements and
TAFII-dependent activator function.
0270-7306/98/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1998, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.
Novel Cofactors and TFIIA Mediate Functional Core Promoter
Selectivity by the Human TAFII150-Containing
TFIID Complex


*
Corresponding author. Mailing address: Laboratory of
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Ave., New York, NY 10021. Phone: (212) 327-7600. Fax: (212) 327-7949. E-mail: roeder{at}rockvax.rockefeller.edu.
Present address: Laboratory of Molecular Embryology, National
Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of
Health, Bethesda, MD 20892.
Present address: Dupont Agricultural Products, Stine-Haskell
Research Center, Newark, DE 19714.
This article has been cited by other articles:
| J. Bacteriol. | J. Virol. | Eukaryot. Cell |
|---|
| Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev. | Clin. Vaccine Immunol. | All ASM Journals |
|---|