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Related Concept Videos

Transcription Elongation Factors02:35

Transcription Elongation Factors

Transcription elongation is a dynamic process that alters depending upon the sequence heterogeneity of the DNA being transcribed. Hence, it is not surprising that the elongation complex's composition also varies along the way while transcribing a gene.
The transcription elongation is regulated via pausing of RNA polymerase on several occasions during transcription. In bacteria, these halts are necessary because the transcription of DNA into mRNA is coupled to the translation of that mRNA into a...
Eukaryotic Transcription Activators02:42

Eukaryotic Transcription Activators

Transcription activators are proteins that promote the transcription of genes from DNA to RNA. In most cases, these proteins contain two separate domains ‒ a domain that binds to DNA and a domain for activating transcription; however, in some cases, a single domain is responsible for both binding and activation of transcription, as seen in the glucocorticoid receptor and MyoD.
The binding domains are capable of recognizing and interacting with regulatory sequences on the DNA. These domains are...
Bacterial Transcription01:53

Bacterial Transcription

RNA polymerase (RNAP) carries out DNA-dependent RNA synthesis in both bacteria and eukaryotes. Bacteria do not have a membrane-bound nucleus. So, transcription and translation occur simultaneously, on the same DNA template.
Transcription can be divided into three main stages, each involving distinct DNA sequences to guide the polymerase. These are:
Transcription Initiation01:47

Transcription Initiation

Initiation is the first step of transcription in eukaryotes. Prokaryotic RNA Polymerase (RNAP) can bind to the template DNA and start transcribing. On the other hand, transcription in eukaryotes requires additional proteins, called transcription factors, to first bind to the promoter region in the DNA template. This binding helps recruit the specific RNAP that can assemble on the DNA and start transcription.
The promoters and enhancers and their accessory proteins allow tight regulation of...
General Transcription Factors01:30

General Transcription Factors

Tissue-specific transcription factors contribute to diverse cellular functions in mammals. For example, the gene for beta globin, a major component of hemoglobin, is present in all cells of the body. However, it is only expressed in red blood cells because the transcription factors that can bind to the promoter sequences of the beta globin gene are only expressed in these cells. Tissue-specific transcription factors also ensure that mutations in these factors may impair only the function of...
Transcription Elongation Factors02:35

Transcription Elongation Factors

Transcription elongation is a dynamic process that alters depending upon the sequence heterogeneity of the DNA being transcribed. Hence, it is not surprising that the elongation complex's composition also varies along the way while transcribing a gene.
The transcription elongation is regulated via pausing of RNA polymerase on several occasions during transcription. In bacteria, these halts are necessary because the transcription of DNA into mRNA is coupled to the translation of that mRNA into a...

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Structural visualization of key steps in human transcription initiation.

Yuan He1, Jie Fang, Dylan J Taatjes

  • 1Life Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.

Nature
|March 1, 2013
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Summary

Researchers visualized the assembly of transcription initiation factors using cryo-electron microscopy. This reveals how transcription factor IIF (TFIIF) stabilizes complexes and how TFIIH (transcription factor II H) opens DNA for accurate gene expression.

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Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Structural Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Eukaryotic transcription initiation involves assembling general transcription factors into a pre-initiation complex.
  • Accurate RNA polymerase II (Pol II) loading at the transcription start site is crucial.
  • The molecular mechanisms and functions of this assembly have been poorly understood due to a lack of structural data.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the stepwise assembly of the human transcription pre-initiation complex.
  • To provide structural insights into the molecular interactions governing transcription initiation.
  • To understand the roles of TFIIF and TFIIH in stabilizing and opening the promoter.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized an in vitro reconstituted system for studying transcription factor assembly.
  • Employed cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to analyze complex structures.
  • Generated pseudo-atomic models of various transcription initiation stages.

Main Results:

  • Detailed structural models of stepwise assembly of TBP, TFIIA, TFIIB, Pol II, TFIIF, TFIIE, and TFIIH on promoter DNA were obtained.
  • Identified critical interactions showing how TFIIF stabilizes both closed and open pre-initiation complexes.
  • Localized TFIIH helicases XPD and XPB, supporting a DNA translocation model for XPB's role in promoter opening.

Conclusions:

  • The study provides unprecedented structural snapshots of eukaryotic transcription initiation.
  • TFIIF plays a key role in stabilizing the pre-initiation complex and regulating transcription start sites.
  • The findings elucidate the mechanism of promoter opening mediated by TFIIH, specifically XPB.