Structure and functional properties of human general transcription factor IIE.

The general transcription factor IIE (TFIIE) is an essential component of the eukaryotic RNA polymerase II initiation complex. We have isolated human complementary DNA clones for both the subunits of TFIIE. Using purified recombinant proteins we find that both subunits are essential to form a stable preinitiation complex and to reconstitute basal-level and Sp1-activated transcription in vitro. Analysis of their predicted amino-acid sequences reveals several intriguing structural motifs that could provide insight into the role of TFIIE in transcription initiation.