Identification of general transcription Factor-Two-E and mediator complex interactions in the context of pre-initiation complex formation

Abstract

Transcription is a multistep process which requires the presence of many different proteins and protein complexes. The minimal protein components enabling transcription to happen are identified to execute the event in vitro. However, formation of the transcriptional machinery and the interactions of the proteins while forming the machinery are still not fully understood. General Transcription Factors (GTFs) are identified as the essential elements required for the transcription yet, it is still not clearly known how they are being recruited to the promoter site. Mediator Complex is known to relay the signal received from enhancer sequences to the transcription machinery which is called the Pre-Initiation Complex (PIC) right before the transcription. Here, we are aimed to characterize how Transcription Factor-Two-E is being recruited to TATA promoter by showing this recruitment is strongly corelated with Mediator complex. Besides, this recruitment of Transcription Factor-Two-E to TATA promoter may require more than one subunit of Mediator complex in addition to functional core. Also, here we confirm that Transcription Factor-Two-E co-precipitates with RNA Polymerase II (RNAP II) and TFIIH which are consistent with the existing data in literature. However, the details and the nature of these interactions are yet to be clarified. Identification of these interaction will hopefully result in insights about the sequential formation of PIC or pre-formed holoenzyme multi proteins.