@article {2388, title = {Shifting players and paradigms in cell-specific transcription.}, journal = {Molecular Cell}, volume = {36}, year = {2009}, month = {2009 Dec 25}, pages = {924-31}, abstract = {

Historically, developmental-stage- and tissue-specific patterns of gene expression were assumed to be determined primarily by DNA regulatory sequences and their associated activators, while the general transcription machinery including core promoter recognition complexes, coactivators, and chromatin modifiers was held to be invariant. New evidence suggests that significant changes in these general transcription factors including TFIID, BAF, and Mediator may facilitate global changes in cell-type-specific transcription.

}, keywords = {Animals, Developmental, Gene Expression Regulation, Genetic, Mediator Complex, Models, Molecular, Promoter Regions, Protein Isoforms, TATA Box Binding Protein-Like Proteins, Tissue Distribution, Transcription, Transcription Factor TFIID}, issn = {1097-4164}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.1100640108}, author = {D{\textquoteright}Alessio, Joseph A and Wright, Kevin J and Tjian, Robert} } @article {2391, title = {Wnt signaling targets ETO coactivation domain of TAF4/TFIID in vivo.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {106}, year = {2009}, month = {2009 Jan 6}, pages = {55-60}, abstract = {

Understanding the diverse activities of the multisubunit core promoter recognition complex TFIID in vivo requires knowledge of how individual subunits contribute to overall functions of this TATA box-binding protein (TBP)/TBP-associated factor (TAF) complex. By generating altered holo-TFIID complexes in Drosophila we identify the ETO domain of TAF4 as a coactivator domain likely targeted by Pygopus, a protein that is required for Wingless-induced transcription of naked cuticle. These results establish a coactivator function of TAF4 and provide a strategy to dissect mechanisms of TFIID function in vivo.

}, keywords = {Animals, Binding Sites, Cell Line, Drosophila, Drosophila Proteins, Humans, Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins, Larva, Multiprotein Complexes, Proto-Oncogene Proteins, Signal Transduction, TATA-Binding Protein Associated Factors, Transcription Factor TFIID, Transcription Factors, Tumor, Wnt Proteins}, issn = {1091-6490}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.1100640108}, author = {Wright, Kevin J and Tjian, Robert} } @article {2395, title = {TBP, Mot1, and NC2 establish a regulatory circuit that controls DPE-dependent versus TATA-dependent transcription.}, journal = {Genes \& Development}, volume = {22}, year = {2008}, month = {2008 Sep 1}, pages = {2353-8}, abstract = {

The RNA polymerase II core promoter is a structurally and functionally diverse transcriptional module. RNAi depletion and overexpression experiments revealed a genetic circuit that controls the balance of transcription from two core promoter motifs, the TATA box and the downstream core promoter element (DPE). In this circuit, TBP activates TATA-dependent transcription and represses DPE-dependent transcription, whereas Mot1 and NC2 block TBP function and thus repress TATA-dependent transcription and activate DPE-dependent transcription. This regulatory circuit is likely to be one means by which biological networks can transmit transcriptional signals, such as those from DPE-specific and TATA-specific enhancers, via distinct pathways.

}, keywords = {Animals, Cells, Cultured, Drosophila, Drosophila Proteins, Enhancer Elements, Gene Expression Regulation, Genetic, Promoter Regions, RNA Polymerase II, TATA Box, TATA-Box Binding Protein, Transcription, Transcription Factors}, issn = {0890-9369}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.1100640108}, author = {Hsu, Jer-Yuan and Juven-Gershon, Tamar and Marr, Michael T and Wright, Kevin J and Tjian, Robert and Kadonaga, James T} } @article {2408, title = {Coactivator cross-talk specifies transcriptional output.}, journal = {Genes \& Development}, volume = {20}, year = {2006}, month = {2006 Jun 1}, pages = {1458-69}, abstract = {

Cells often fine-tune gene expression at the level of transcription to generate the appropriate response to a given environmental or developmental stimulus. Both positive and negative influences on gene expression must be balanced to produce the correct level of mRNA synthesis. To this end, the cell uses several classes of regulatory coactivator complexes including two central players, TFIID and Mediator (MED), in potentiating activated transcription. Both of these complexes integrate activator signals and convey them to the basal apparatus. Interestingly, many promoters require both regulatory complexes, although at first glance they may seem to be redundant. Here we have used RNA interference (RNAi) in Drosophila cells to selectively deplete subunits of the MED and TFIID complexes to dissect the contribution of each of these complexes in modulating activated transcription. We exploited the robust response of the metallothionein genes to heavy metal as a model for transcriptional activation by analyzing direct factor recruitment in both heterogeneous cell populations and at the single-cell level. Intriguingly, we find that MED and TFIID interact functionally to modulate transcriptional response to metal. The metal response element-binding transcription factor-1 (MTF-1) recruits TFIID, which then binds promoter DNA, setting up a "checkpoint complex" for the initiation of transcription that is subsequently activated upon recruitment of the MED complex. The appropriate expression level of the endogenous metallothionein genes is achieved only when the activities of these two coactivators are balanced. Surprisingly, we find that the same activator (MTF-1) requires different coactivator subunits depending on the context of the core promoter. Finally, we find that the stability of multi-subunit coactivator complexes can be compromised by loss of a single subunit, underscoring the potential for combinatorial control of transcription activation.

}, keywords = {Animals, Cells, Chromatin Immunoprecipitation, Cultured, Drosophila, Gene Expression, Genetic, Metallothionein, Models, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Promoter Regions, RNA Interference, Transcription}, issn = {0890-9369}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.1100640108}, author = {Marr, Michael T and Isogai, Yoh and Wright, Kevin J and Tjian, Robert} } @article {2406, title = {TAF4 nucleates a core subcomplex of TFIID and mediates activated transcription from a TATA-less promoter.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {103}, year = {2006}, month = {2006 Aug 15}, pages = {12347-52}, abstract = {

Activator-dependent recruitment of TFIID initiates formation of the transcriptional preinitiation complex. TFIID binds core promoter DNA elements and directs the assembly of other general transcription factors, leading to binding of RNA polymerase II and activation of RNA synthesis. How TATA box-binding protein (TBP) and the TBP-associated factors (TAFs) are assembled into a functional TFIID complex with promoter recognition and coactivator activities in vivo remains unknown. Here, we use RNAi to knock down specific TFIID subunits in Drosophila tissue culture cells to determine which subunits are most critical for maintaining stability of TFIID in vivo. Contrary to expectations, we find that TAF4 rather than TBP or TAF1 plays the most critical role in maintaining stability of the complex. Our analysis also indicates that TAF5, TAF6, TAF9, and TAF12 play key roles in stability of the complex, whereas TBP, TAF1, TAF2, and TAF11 contribute very little to complex stability. Based on our results, we propose that holo-TFIID comprises a stable core subcomplex containing TAF4, TAF5, TAF6, TAF9, and TAF12 decorated with peripheral subunits TAF1, TAF2, TAF11, and TBP. Our initial functional studies indicate a specific and significant role for TAF1 and TAF4 in mediating transcription from a TATA-less, downstream core promoter element (DPE)-containing promoter, whereas a TATA-containing, DPE-less promoter was far less dependent on these subunits. In contrast to both TAF1 and TAF4, RNAi knockdown of TAF5 had little effect on transcription from either class of promoter. These studies significantly alter previous models for the assembly, structure, and function of TFIID.

}, keywords = {Animals, Cell Line, Drosophila melanogaster, Drosophila Proteins, Enzyme Stability, Gene Expression Regulation, Genetic, Humans, Macromolecular Substances, Models, Molecular, Protein Subunits, RNA Interference, TATA Box, TATA-Binding Protein Associated Factors, Transcription, Transcription Factor TFIID}, issn = {0027-8424}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.1100640108}, author = {Wright, Kevin J and Marr, Michael T and Tjian, Robert} }