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Common themes in assembly and function of eukaryotic transcription complexes
1Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Biochemistry, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Piscataway 08854-5635, USA.
Annual Review of Biochemistry
|January 1, 1995
Summary
Eukaryotic gene transcription involves RNA polymerases, with RNA polymerase II requiring specific factors (TFIIE, TFIIH) for promoter escape. This complex initiation pathway offers numerous targets for gene regulation by activators and repressors.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Eukaryotes utilize three distinct RNA polymerases for gene transcription.
- Each polymerase transcribes a specific subset of nuclear genes.
- Common mechanisms govern polymerase loading onto promoter regions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the unique aspects of the RNA polymerase II transcription initiation pathway.
- To identify potential targets for transcriptional regulation within the RNA polymerase II system.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of RNA polymerase II loading and initiation.
- Investigation of auxiliary factor roles (TFIIE, TFIIH).
- Examination of transcriptional activator and repressor cofactor interactions.
Main Results:
- RNA polymerase II requires auxiliary factors TFIIE and TFIIH for promoter escape.
- The RNA polymerase II initiation pathway is complex and highly regulated.
- Multiple cofactors modulate transcription initiation levels.
Conclusions:
- The RNA polymerase II system exhibits unique requirements for transcription initiation.
- The complexity of this pathway provides extensive regulatory control points.
- Transcriptional activators and repressors target multiple components of the initiation machinery.