Molecular cloning of cDNA encoding the small subunit of Drosophila transcription initiation factor TFIIF

Transcription initiation factor TFIIF is a tetramer consisting of two large subunits (TFIIF alpha or RAP74) and two small subunits (TFIIF beta or RAP30). We report here the molecular cloning of a Drosophila cDNA encoding TFIIF beta. The cDNA clone contains an open-reading frame encoding a 277 amino acid polypeptide having a calculated molecular mass of 32,107 Da. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence with the corresponding sequences from vertebrates showed only 50% identity, with four insertion/deletion points. For transcription activity in a TFIIF-depleted Drosophila nuclear extract, both TFIIF alpha and TFIIF beta are essential. Moreover, Drosophila TFIIF beta interacts with both Drosophila and human TFIIF alpha in vitro. Thus we conclude that isolated cDNA encodes bona fide TFIIF beta. The structural domains of TFIIF beta and its sequence similarity to bacterial delta factors are discussed.