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Conserved sequence motifs in the small subunit of human general transcription factor TFIIE

Nature volume 354, pages 401–404 (1991)Cite this article

Abstract

A GENERAL initiation factor, TFIIE, is essential for transcription initiation by RNA polymerase II in conjunction with other general factors1,2. TFIIE is a heterotetramer containing two subunits of relative molecular mass 57,000 (TFIIE-α) and two of 34,000 (TFIIE-β)3,4. TFIIE-β is required in conjunction with TFIIE-α for transcription initiation. Here we report the cloning and expression of a complementary DNA encoding a functional human TFIIE-β. Recombinant TFIIE-β could replace the natural TFIIE-β for transcription in conjunction with TFIIE-α. Amino-acid sequence comparisons reveal regions with sequence similarities to: subregion 3 of bacterial factors6; a region of RAP30 (the small subunit of TFIIF) with sequence similarity to a a factor subregion implicated in binding to RNA polymerase7; and a portion of the basic region-helix-loop-helix motif found in several enhancer-binding proteins8,10. These potential homologies have implications for the role of TFIIE in preinitiation complex assembly and function.

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Author notes

  1. Shunichi Shimasaki: Department of Molecular Endocrinology, The Whittier Institute for Diabetes and Endocrinology, La Jolla, California 92037, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, 10021, USA

    Hideki Sumimoto, Yoshiaki Ohkuma, Eric Sinn, Hiroyuki Kato, Shunichi Shimasaki, Masami Horikoshi & Robert G. Roeder

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  1. Hideki Sumimoto
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  2. Yoshiaki Ohkuma
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  3. Eric Sinn
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  4. Hiroyuki Kato
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  5. Shunichi Shimasaki
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  6. Masami Horikoshi
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  7. Robert G. Roeder
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Sumimoto, H., Ohkuma, Y., Sinn, E. et al. Conserved sequence motifs in the small subunit of human general transcription factor TFIIE. Nature 354, 401–404 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1038/354401a0

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