THE TRANSLATION PRODUCT OF THE PRESUMPTIVE THERMOCOCCUS-CELER TATA-BINDING PROTEIN-SEQUENCE IS A TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR-RELATED IN STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION TO METHANOCOCCUS TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR-B

A gene for a putative homolog of TATA-binding protein (TBP) from Therm ococcus celer has been expressed in Escherichia coli, and the function of the purified recombinant protein was studied in a Methanococcus-de rived cell-free transcription system. Thermococcus TBP can replace arc haeal transcription factor B (aTFB) in cell-free transcription reactio ns. This transcriptional activation is TATA box-dependent and occurs b oth on tRNA(Val) and protein-encoding genes as templates indicating th at Thermococcus TBP is a general transcription factor. Antibodies rais ed against Thermococcus TBP bind to Methanococcus aTFB and inhibit aTF B activity. These findings demonstrate that Thermococcus TBP (like euc aryal TBPs) can direct specific transcription from TATA boxes.