Conserved sequence motifs in the small subunit of human general transcription factor TFIIE

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Abstract
A GENERAL initiation factor, TFIIE, is essential for transcription initiation by RNA polymerase II in conjunction with other general factors1,2. TFIIE is a heterotetramer containing two subunits of relative molecular mass 57,000 (TFIIE-α) and two of 34,000 (TFIIE-β)3,4. TFIIE-β is required in conjunction with TFIIE-α for transcription initiation. Here we report the cloning and expression of a complementary DNA encoding a functional human TFIIE-β. Recombinant TFIIE-β could replace the natural TFIIE-β for transcription in conjunction with TFIIE-α. Amino-acid sequence comparisons reveal regions with sequence similarities to: subregion 3 of bacterial factors6; a region of RAP30 (the small subunit of TFIIF) with sequence similarity to a a factor subregion implicated in binding to RNA polymerase7; and a portion of the basic region-helix-loop-helix motif found in several enhancer-binding proteins8,10. These potential homologies have implications for the role of TFIIE in preinitiation complex assembly and function.