Skip to main content

The downstream core promoter element, DPE, is conserved from Drosophila to humans and is recognized by TAFII60 of Drosophila.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Burke, TW; Kadonaga, JT
Published in: Genes & development
November 1997

We analyzed the function of the downstream promoter element (DPE), a distinct 7-nucleotide core promoter element that is approximately 30 nucleotides downstream of the transcription start site of many TATA-box-deficient (TATA-less) promoters in Drosophila. There is a strict requirement for spacing between the Inr and DPE motifs, as an increase or decrease of 3 nucleotides in the distance between the Inr and DPE causes a seven- to eightfold reduction in transcription as well as a significant reduction in the binding of purified TFIID. These results suggest a specific and somewhat rigid interaction of TFIID with the Inr and DPE sequences. Photo-cross-linking analysis of purified TFIID with a TATA-less DPE-containing promoter revealed specific cross-linking of dTAFII60 and dTAFII40 to the DPE, with a higher efficiency of cross-linking to dTAFII60 than to dTAFII40. These data, combined with the previously well-characterized interactions between the two TAFs and their homology to histones H4 and H3, suggest that a dTAFII60-dTAFII40 heterotetramer binds to the DPE. Human and Drosophila transcription factors exhibit essentially the same requirements for DPE sequence and for Inr-DPE spacing. In addition, the TATA-less promoter of the human interferon regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1) gene contains a DPE that is important for transcriptional activity both in vitro and in cultured cells. Hence, these studies provide evidence for a direct role of TAFs in basal transcription of TATA-less DPE-containing genes and collectively indicate that the DPE is, in many respects, a downstream counterpart to the TATA box that is present in Drosophila to humans.

Duke Scholars

Altmetric Attention Stats
Dimensions Citation Stats

Published In

Genes & development

DOI

EISSN

1549-5477

ISSN

0890-9369

Publication Date

November 1997

Volume

11

Issue

22

Start / End Page

3020 / 3031

Related Subject Headings

  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Transcription Factors
  • Transcription Factor TFIID
  • TATA-Binding Protein Associated Factors
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Humans
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Drosophila melanogaster
  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Developmental Biology
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Burke, T. W., & Kadonaga, J. T. (1997). The downstream core promoter element, DPE, is conserved from Drosophila to humans and is recognized by TAFII60 of Drosophila. Genes & Development, 11(22), 3020–3031. https://doi.org/10.1101/gad.11.22.3020
Burke, T. W., and J. T. Kadonaga. “The downstream core promoter element, DPE, is conserved from Drosophila to humans and is recognized by TAFII60 of Drosophila.Genes & Development 11, no. 22 (November 1997): 3020–31. https://doi.org/10.1101/gad.11.22.3020.
Burke, T. W., and J. T. Kadonaga. “The downstream core promoter element, DPE, is conserved from Drosophila to humans and is recognized by TAFII60 of Drosophila.Genes & Development, vol. 11, no. 22, Nov. 1997, pp. 3020–31. Epmc, doi:10.1101/gad.11.22.3020.

Published In

Genes & development

DOI

EISSN

1549-5477

ISSN

0890-9369

Publication Date

November 1997

Volume

11

Issue

22

Start / End Page

3020 / 3031

Related Subject Headings

  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Transcription Factors
  • Transcription Factor TFIID
  • TATA-Binding Protein Associated Factors
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Humans
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Drosophila melanogaster
  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Developmental Biology