Sq. Pan et al., Role of the TATA binding protein-transcription factor IIB interaction in supporting basal and activated transcription in plant cells, PL CELL, 12(1), 2000, pp. 125-135
The TATA binding protein (TBP) and transcription factor IIB (TFIIB) play cr
ucial roles in transcription of class II genes. The requirement for TBP-TFI
IB interactions was evaluated in maize cells by introducing mutations into
the Arabidopsis TBP (AtTBP2) within the C-terminal stirrup. Protein binding
experiments indicated that amino acid residues E-144 and E-146 of AtTBP2 a
re both essential for TFIIB binding in vitro. Activation domains derived fr
om herpes simplex viral protein VP16, the Drosophila fushi tarazu glutamine
-rich domain (ftzQ), and yeast Gal4 were tested in transient assays. TBP-TF
IIB interactions were dispensable for basal transcription but were required
for activated transcription. In general, activated transcription was more
severely inhibited by TBP mutation E-146R than by mutation E-144R. However,
these TBP mutations had little effect on activity of the full-length cauli
flower mosaic virus 35S and maize ubiquitin promoters, thus demonstrating t
hat strong TBP-TFIIB contacts are not always required for transcription dri
ven by complex promoters.