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An alternative pathway for transcription initiation involving TFII-I

Abstract

THE minimal promoter elements required for initiation by RNA polymer ase II include the TAT A box and/or an initiator element (Inr) at or near the transcription start site1–4. Studies of the adenovirus major late core promoter (containing both elements) have demonstrated an initiation pathway that involves binding of the transcription factor TFIID (or the derived subunit, the TATA-binding protein TBP (TFIIDτ)) to the TATA element, which is facilitated by transcription factor TFIIA, followed by sequential interactions of other general factors4–8. Here we describe a novel pathway that requires an intact Inr and the Inr-binding factor TFII-I (ref. 3). Sequential addition of the general factors generated TFII-I-dependent preinitiation complexes different from those formed with TFIIA. Furthermore, TBP bound cooperatively (with only TFII-I) to an Inr-containing TATA-less promoter, suggesting a means for activation of TATA-less promoters, which nonetheless require TFIID (refs 9–11). These observations provide support for functionally distinct pathways which could be subject to differential regulation by specific activators or repressers.

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Roy, A., Malik, S., Meisterernst, M. et al. An alternative pathway for transcription initiation involving TFII-I. Nature 365, 355–359 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1038/365355a0

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