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Structural dynamics and DNA interaction of human TFIID

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Pages 55-60 | Received 07 Nov 2016, Accepted 21 Nov 2016, Published online: 05 Jan 2017
 

ABSTRACT

TFIID is a large protein complex required for the recognition and binding of eukaryotic gene core promoter sequences and for the recruitment of the rest of the general transcription factors involved in initiation of eukaryotic protein gene transcription. Cryo-electron microscopy studies have demonstrated the conformational complexity of human TFIID, where one-third of the mass of the complex can shift its position by well over 100 Å. This conformational plasticity appears to be linked to the capacity of TFIID to bind DNA, and suggests how it would allow both the recognition of different core promoter elements and the tuning of its binding affinity by regulatory factors.

Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest

No potential conflicts of interest were disclosed.

Funding

This work was supported by a grant from NIGMS (GM63072 to E.N.). E.N. is a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator.