Contribution to Book
Chapter 2: The General Transcription Machinery and Preinitiation Complex Formation
Gene Expression and Regulation
(2006)
Abstract
Transcription of protein-coding genes in eukaryotes is regulated by RNA polymerase II (pol II). By itself, pol II is unable to direct site-specific initiation of transcription and requires a host of accessory proteins, termed general transcription factors (GTFs), to commence basal level transcription dictated by the core promoter elements. The GTFs for pol II-mediated transcription include TFIIA, TFIIB, TFIID, TFIIE, TFIIF, and TFIIH. The transcription cycle, whether basal or regulated transcription, can be divided into multiple stages: preinitiation complex (PIC) assembly, initiation, promoter clearance, elongation, termination, and reinitiation. Before initiation, TFIID binding to the core promoter marks the beginning for PIC assembly. This is followed by the entry of TFIIA, TFIIB, pol II/TFIIF, TFIIE, and TFIIH, either in a stepwise fashion or as a preassembled pol II holoenzyme complex, to form a stable PIC which is ready to make RNA when ribonucleoside triphosphates and an energy source are provided. Formation of the PIC is a critical and often rate-limiting step in transcriptional regulation. Here we discuss the properties of pol II and each GTF in relation to PIC assembly, which occurs prior to the formation of the first phosphodiester bond in transcription initiation.
Disciplines
Publication Date
2006
Editor
Jun Ma
Publisher
Higher Education Press
ISBN
978-0-387-33208-6
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-40049-5
Publisher Statement
This book offers a comprehensive look into the science of gene expression and regulation. Focusing on topics such as actions of nuclear receptors, RNA processing, and DNA methylation and imprinting, Gene Expression and
Regulation is edited by a leading biologist and includes contributions by experts in the field.
Presented in the following five sections, this book covers a full spectrum of topics: The History; The Machinery; The Regulators; The Genome; and Special Topics. The Machinery section covers the transcriptional apparatus and general transcription factors. The Regulators section examines selected gene-specific transcription factors important to regulating gene expression. The Genome section covers issues relevant to the behavior of the genome in relation to gene regulation. The Special Topics section discusses several selected topics ranging from bacterial and plant gene expression to DNA topology and interference RNA. The book’s focus is on scientific concepts and issues, rather than specific organisms or experimental approaches.
Complete with more than 100 illustrations, Gene Expression and Regulation provides biologists with concise and
comprehensive research outlined in chapters including:
• DNA Topology and Transcription
• Gene Expression in Plants
• Chromatin and Chromatin Remodeling
• Core Promoter Elements
• Bacterial Gene Regulation
• Transcription Factor Dynamics
Citation Information
Samuel Hou and Cheng-Ming Chiang. "Chapter 2: The General Transcription Machinery and Preinitiation Complex Formation" BeijingGene Expression and Regulation (2006) p. 21 - 48 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/samuel-hou/13/