Abstract
Transcription factors IIB (TFIIB) and IIE (TFIIE) bound to RNA polymerase II have been revealed by electron crystallography in projection at 15.7 A resolution. The results lead to simple hypotheses for the roles of these factors in the initiation of transcription. TFIIB is suggested to define the distance from TATA box to transcription start site by bringing TATA DNA in contact with polymerase at that distance from the active center of the enzyme. TFIIE is suggested to participate in a key conformational switch occurring at the active center upon polymerase-DNA interaction.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Binding Sites
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Crystallography / methods*
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DNA, Fungal / genetics
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DNA, Fungal / metabolism
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Escherichia coli / genetics
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Fourier Analysis
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Macromolecular Substances
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Models, Molecular
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Protein Conformation
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RNA Polymerase II / metabolism*
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RNA Polymerase II / ultrastructure*
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Recombinant Proteins / ultrastructure
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Saccharomyces cerevisiae / enzymology
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Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics
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TATA Box
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Transcription Factor TFIIB
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Transcription Factors / metabolism*
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Transcription Factors / ultrastructure*
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Transcription Factors, TFII*
Substances
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DNA, Fungal
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Macromolecular Substances
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Recombinant Proteins
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Transcription Factor TFIIB
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Transcription Factors
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Transcription Factors, TFII
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transcription factor TFIIE
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RNA Polymerase II