Structure of a (Cys3His) zinc ribbon, a ubiquitous motif in archaeal and eucaryal transcription

• DOI: 10.1110/ps.9.9.1743
• Publication Date: 2009-02-17T23:12:05Z
• Authors: Hung‐Ta Chen; Pascale Legault; John Glushka; James G. Omichinski; Robert A. Scott
• Keywords: General transcription factor; RNA polymerase II; Transcription preinitiation complex

Abstract Transcription factor IIB (TFIIB) is an essential component in the formation of transcription initiation complex eucaryal and archaeal transcription. TFIIB interacts with a promoter containing TATA‐binding protein (TBP) to facilitate interaction RNA polymerase II (RNA pol II) associated IIF (TFIIF). contains zinc‐binding motif near N‐terminus that directly involved II/ TFIIF plays crucial role selecting site. The solution structure N‐terminal residues 2–59 human was determined by multidimensional NMR spectroscopy. consists nearly tetrahedral Zn(Cys) 3 (His) 1 site confined type I “rubredoxin” turns, three antiparallel β–strands, disordered loops. similar reported zinc‐ribbon motifs several transcription‐related proteins from archaea eucarya, including Pyrococcus furiosus B ( Pf TFB), yeast IIS (TFIIS), Thermococcus celer subunit M Tc RPOM). TFIIB, conjunction biochemical analyses, suggests on β–sheet are II/TFIIF, while may increase stability β–sheet.