Biochemistry and biology of the inducible multifunctional transcription factor TFII-1

An animal cell has the capability to respond to a variety of external signa ls through cell surface receptors. The response is usually manifested in te rms of altered gene expression in the nucleus. Thus, in modem molecular and cell biology, it has become important to understand how the communication between extracellular signals and nuclear gene transcription is achieved. O riginally discovered as a basal factor required for initiator-dependent tra nscription in vitro, recent evidence suggests that TFII-I is also an induci ble multifunctional transcription factor that is activated in response to a variety of extracellular signals and translocates to the nucleus to turn o n signal-induced genes. Here I review the biochemical and biological proper ties of TFJI-I and related proteins in nuclear gene transcription, signal t ransduction and genetic disorders. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All right s reserved.