Protein sequence analysis has revealed a family of TATA-binding-protein (TB
P)-like factors (TLFs) in metazoan organisms. Modelling of the three-dimens
ional structure of these TLFs suggests that they form an asymmetric saddle-
like structure and that, unlike TBP, TLFs might bind to DNA sequences other
than classical TATA boxes. Thus, the existence of TLFs presents a challeng
e to the doctrine that TBP is a universal regulator of transcription in met
azoans.