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Published on: August 26, 2012
Basal core promoters control the equilibrium between negative cofactor 2 and preinitiation complexes in human cells
Thomas K Albert1, Korbinian Grote, Stefan Boeing
1Institute of Molecular Tumor Biology (IMTB), University of Muenster, Robert-Koch-Str, Muenster, Germany. albertt@uni-muenster.de
Genome Biology
|March 17, 2010
Summary
General transcription factors TFIIB and NC2 regulate RNA polymerase II transcription. Their genome-wide mapping in human cells reveals preinitiation complex formation is often independent of core promoter elements.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Gene Regulation
- Epigenetics
Background:
- TFIIB and NC2 are key regulators of RNA polymerase II transcription.
- These factors bind TBP mutually exclusively at promoters.
- TFIIB dissociation indicates preinitiation complex levels.
Purpose of the Study:
- To map TFIIB and NC2 genome-wide in human B cells.
- To analyze core promoter architectures associated with these factors.
- To understand in vivo preinitiation complex formation.
Main Methods:
- Genome-wide promoter mapping of TFIIB and NC2.
- Comparative analysis of TFIIB and NC2 target genes.
- Correlation of factor occupancy with gene expression and promoter elements.
Main Results:
- TFIIB occupancy correlates positively with gene expression.
- Most promoters are GC-rich with no defined elements; TATA elements are rare.
- TFIIB/NC2 ratios influence promoter architecture and transcription start site patterns.
Conclusions:
- TFIIB and NC2 are global regulators of active genes.
- Preinitiation complex formation is largely independent of core promoter elements.
- TATA elements influence TFIIB binding in a subset of genes.
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