Abstract
The TATA-binding protein TBP appears to be essential for all transcription in eukaryotic cell nuclei, which suggests that its function was established early in evolution. Archaebacteria constitute a kingdom of organisms distinct from eukaryotes and eubacteria. Archaebacterial gene regulatory sequences often map to TATA box-like motifs. Here it is shown that the archaebacterium Pyrococcus woesei expresses a protein with structural and functional similarity to eukaryotic TBP molecules. This suggests that TBP's role in transcription was established before the archaebacterial and eukaryotic lineages diverged and that the transcription systems of archaebacteria and eukaryotes are fundamentally homologous.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Adenovirus E1A Proteins / genetics
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Amino Acid Sequence
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Arabidopsis / genetics
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Archaea / chemistry
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Archaea / genetics*
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Archaea / metabolism
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Base Sequence
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Biological Evolution*
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Cloning, Molecular
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DNA-Binding Proteins / chemistry
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DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics*
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DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
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Eukaryotic Cells / metabolism*
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Genes, Bacterial
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Polymerase Chain Reaction
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins
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Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics
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Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
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TATA Box*
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TATA-Box Binding Protein
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Transcription Factor TFIIB
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Transcription Factor TFIIIB*
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Transcription Factors / chemistry
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Transcription Factors / genetics*
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Transcription Factors / metabolism
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Transcription, Genetic
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Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / genetics
Substances
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Adenovirus E1A Proteins
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BRF1 protein, S cerevisiae
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DNA-Binding Proteins
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins
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Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
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TATA-Box Binding Protein
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Transcription Factor TFIIB
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Transcription Factor TFIIIB
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Transcription Factors
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Tumor Suppressor Protein p53