The RNA polymerase II preinitiation complex

Structure of an RNA polymerase II preinitiation complex.

The structure of a 33-protein, 1.5-MDa RNA polymerase II preinitiation complex (PIC) was determined by cryo-EM and image processing at a resolution of 6-11 Å. Atomic structures of over 50% of the mass were fitted into the electron density map in a manner consistent with protein-protein cross-links previously identified by mass spectrometry. The resulting model of the PIC confirmed the main conc...

Position of the general transcription factor TFIIF within the RNA polymerase II transcription preinitiation complex.

The RNA polymerase (pol) II general transcription factor TFIIF functions at several steps in transcription initiation including preinitiation complex (PIC) formation and start site selection. We find that two structured TFIIF domains bind Pol II at separate locations far from the active site with the TFIIF dimerization domain on the Pol II lobe and the winged helix domain of the TFIIF small sub...

Selectively Affects Transcription In Vivo Polymerase II Preinitiation Complex and Yeast NC2 Associates with the RNA

Yeast NC2 associates with the RNA polymerase II preinitiation complex and selectively affects transcription in vivo.

NC2 (Dr1-Drap1 or Bur6-Ydr1) has been characterized in vitro as a general negative regulator of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) transcription that interacts with TATA-binding protein (TBP) and inhibits its function. Here, we show that NC2 associates with promoters in vivo in a manner that correlates with transcriptional activity and with occupancy by basal transcription factors. NC2 rapidly associat...

Independent RNA polymerase II preinitiation complex dynamics and nucleosome turnover at promoter sites in vivo.

Transcription by all three eukaryotic RNA polymerases involves the assembly of a large preinitiation complex (PIC) at gene promoters. The PIC comprises several general transcription factors (GTFs), including TBP, and the respective RNA polymerase. It has been suggested that some GTFs remain stably bound at active promoters to facilitate multiple transcription events. Here we used two complement...