Abstract
The core promoter is an important yet often overlooked component in the regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase II. In fact, the core promoter is the ultimate target of action of all of the factors and coregulators that control the transcriptional activity of every gene. In this review, I describe our current knowledge of a downstream core promoter element termed the DPE, which is a TFIID recognition site that is conserved from Drosophila to humans. The DPE is located from +28 to +32 relative to the +1 transcription start site, and is mainly present in core promoters that lack a TATA box motif. Moreover, in Drosophila, the DPE appears to be about as common as the TATA box. There are distinct mechanisms of basal transcription from DPE- versus TATA-dependent core promoters. For instance, NC2/Dr1-Drap1 is a repressor of TATA-dependent transcription and an activator of DPE-dependent transcription. In addition, DPE-specific and TATA-specific transcriptional enhancers have been identified. These findings further indicate that the core promoter is an active participant in the regulation of eukaryotic gene expression.
Highlights
Regulation of Transcription by RNA Polymerase IIThe eukaryotic cell is confronted with the challenge of properly regulating each of its tens of thousands of genes
There are a variety of core promoter elements as well as multiple distinct mechanisms of basal transcription
There will be many exciting and important experiments to be performed on the role of core promoter motifs in transcriptional regulation
Summary
The eukaryotic cell is confronted with the challenge of properly regulating each of its tens of thousands of genes. Trans-acting factors are the effectors of the transcriptional programs of genes These factors include RNA polymerase II and the basal/general transcription factors (i.e., the basal transcriptional machinery), sequence-specific DNA-binding factors that interact with promoters and enhancers, ATP-utilizing chromatin remodeling factors that mobilize nucleosomes, transcriptional mediators that promote interactions between enhancer-binding factors and the basal transcriptional machinery, and an assortment of enzymes that catalyze acetylation, deacetylation, phosphorylation, ubiquitinylation, and methylation of histones and other proteins (see, for example: Burley and Roeder, 1996; Orphanides et al, 1996; Hampsey 1998; Lefstin and Yamamoto, 1998; Myer and Young, 1998; Roeder, 1998; Struhl, 1999; Glass and Rosenfeld, 2000; Lee and Young, 2000; Lemon and Tjian, 2000; Strahl and Allis, 2000; Courey and Jia, 2001; Dvir et al, 2001; White, 2001; Zhang and Reinberg, 2001; Emerson, 2002; McKenna and O'Malley, 2002; Narlikar et al, 2002; Orphanides and Reinberg, 2002). I will discuss the DPE, which is a conserved downstream core promoter element
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
