Genomics and transcription analysis of human TFIID

• Published in: Oncogene Vol. 16; no. 12; pp. 1633 - 1638
• Main Authors: PURRELLO, M, DI PIETRO, C, SICHEL, G, GRZESCHIK, K.-H, ROEDER, R, VIOLA, A, RAPISARDA, A, STEVENS, S, GUERMAH, M, YONG TAO, BONAIUTO, C, ARCIDIACONO, A, MESSINA, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basingstoke Nature Publishing 26.03.1998; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Blotting, Northern; Cell differentiation; Cell growth; Cell proliferation; Chromosome Mapping; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genome, Human; Genomics; Humans; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; Isoforms; Mice; Molecular and cellular biology; Molecular genetics; p53 Protein; Phenotypes; Phenotypic variations; RNA, Messenger - analysis; Signal transduction; Tata box; TATA-binding protein; TFIID protein; Transcription Factor TFIID; Transcription factors; Transcription Factors, TFII - genetics; Transcription initiation; Transcription, Genetic; Transcription. Transcription factor. Splicing. Rna processing; Tumorigenesis; Genetic mapping; Human; Gene; Nucleotide sequence; Chromosome; Homology; Multigene family; Gene expression; Subunit; Transcription factor TFIID; Transcription initiation
• ISSN: 0950-9232; 1476-5594
• DOI: 10.1038/sj.onc.1201673

TFIID, a multisubunit protein comprised of TBP (TATA box-binding protein) and TAF(II)s (TBP-associated factors), has a central role in transcription initiation at class II promoters. TAF(II)s role as mediators of regulatory transcription factors, such as pRb and p53, and their involvement in signal transduction pathways suggest that some may participate in the control of cell proliferation and differentiation: therefore, they could be considered potential protooncogenes or antioncogenes. With the aim of starting to analyse these potential roles, we have determined the genomic position of nine human TAF(II) genes (TAF[II]250, TAF[II]135, TAF[II]100, TAF[II]80, TAF[II]55, TAF[II]43, TAF[II]31, TAF[II]28, TAF[II]20/15) and of two previously unknown sequences related to TAF(II)250 and TAF(II)31, respectively. Except for those encoding TAF(II)250 and TAF(II)31, these genes are present in a single copy and, with the exclusion of those for TAF(II)43 and TAF(II)28 (both at 6p21), are localized in different segments of the genome. Indeed, six of them map to a chromosomal region commonly altered in specific neoplasias, which defines them as candidates for involvement in oncogenesis. Our experiments also demonstrate that TAF(II) transcripts are synthesized ubiquitously, mostly at low levels similar to those of TBP. Interestingly, the amount of the major mRNA species detected by TAF(II)20/15 cDNA is higher, which suggests that the polypeptide it encodes may also perform functions independently of TFIID. TAF(II) isoforms, indicated by additional bands on Northern blots, may play a role in modulation of TFIID function. These data will be useful for analysing variations of TAF(II) mRNA phenotype during cell proliferation, differentiation and development, both normal and pathological.