Transcription preinitiation complex

The preinitiation complex (abbreviated PIC) is a large complex of proteins that is necessary for the transcription of protein-coding genes in eukaryotes (+archaea). The preinitiation complex helps position RNA polymerase II over gene transcription start sites, denatures the DNA, and positions the DNA in the RNA polymerase II active site for transcription.[1][2][3][4]

The minimal PIC includes RNA polymerase II and six general transcription factors: TFIIA, TFIIB, TFIID, TFIIE, TFIIF, and TFIIH. Additional regulatory complexes (co-activators and chromatin-remodeling complexes) could also be components of the PIC.

Assembly

A classical view of PIC formation at the promoter involves the following steps:

An alternative hypothesis of PIC assembly postulates the recruitment of a pre-assembled "RNA Polymerase II holoenzyme" directly to the promoter (composed of all, or nearly all GTFs and RNA polymerase II and regulatory complexes), in a manner similar to the bacterial RNA polymerase (RNAP).

External links

References

  1. Lee TI, Young RA (2000). "Transcription of eukaryotic protein-coding genes". Annu. Rev. Genet. 34: 77–137. doi:10.1146/annurev.genet.34.1.77. PMID 11092823.
  2. Kornberg RD (2007). "The molecular basis of eukaryotic transcription". Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 104 (32): 12955–61. doi:10.1073/pnas.0704138104. PMC 1941834. PMID 17670940.
  3. Kim TK, Lagrange T, Wang YH, Griffith JD, Reinberg D, Ebright RH (1997). "Trajectory of DNA in the RNA polymerase II transcription preinitiation complex". Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 94 (23): 12268-73. doi:10.1073/pnas.94.23.12268. PMC 24903. PMID 9356438.
  4. Kim TK, Ebright RH, Reinberg D (2000). "Mechanism of ATP-dependent promoter melting by transcription factor IIH". Science 288 (5470): 1418–22. doi:10.1126/science.288.5470.1418. PMID 10827951.