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Pre-bending of a promoter sequence enhances affinity for the TATA-binding factor

Nature volume 373, pages 724–727 (1995)Cite this article

Abstract

TATA-binding protein (TBP) binds the minor groove of the TATA element with the DNA bent 80° towards the major groove1–4. A constrained minicircle strategy5 has been used to test the effect of DNA topology on the affinity of TBP for the TATA element. We report here that TBP bound to DNA which was slightly pre-bent towards the major groove with 100-fold higher affinity than unbent (linear) DNA of identical sequence and 300-fold higher affinity than DNA pre-bent towards the minor groove. Similar discrimination was observed with the holo-TFIID transcription complex. DNA topology, particularly bending, is determined by many factors including chromatin in cells and may, through changes in the affinity of the TATA factor, be important in the control of transcription.

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Author notes

  1. Jeffrey D. Parvin

    Present address: Division of Molecular Oncology and Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Cancer Research and Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute for Technology, 40 Ames Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139-4307, USA

    Jeffrey D. Parvin & Phillip A. Sharp

  2. Division of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 44 Binney Street, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, USA

    Richard J. McCormick & David E. Fisher

Authors
  1. Jeffrey D. Parvin
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  2. Richard J. McCormick
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  3. Phillip A. Sharp
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  4. David E. Fisher
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Parvin, J., McCormick, R., Sharp, P. et al. Pre-bending of a promoter sequence enhances affinity for the TATA-binding factor. Nature 373, 724–727 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1038/373724a0

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