TATA-Binding Protein: Difference between revisions
From Proteopedia
Jump to navigationJump to search
Ala Jelani (talk | contribs) No edit summary |
Ala Jelani (talk | contribs) No edit summary |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
<applet load='1ytb' size='300' frame='true' align='right' scene='TATA-Binding_Protein/Tata-binding-protein/1'/> | <applet load='1ytb' size='300' frame='true' align='right' scene='TATA-Binding_Protein/Tata-binding-protein/1'/> | ||
[[Image:MotM 1cdw.gif |left |thumb| An illustration of the TATA-binding protein (in blue) binding to DNA (in red)|200px]] | |||
The enzyme RNA polymerase performs the delicate task of unwinding the two strands of DNA and transcribing the genetic information into a strand of RNA. But how does it know where to start? Our cells contain 30,000 genes encoded in billions of nucleotides. For each gene, the cell must be able to start transcription at the right place and at the right time. The TATA-binding protein helps in the process of recruiting the enzyme RNA polymerase by first recognizing and binding to a characteristic sequence of nucleotides, called the <scene name='TATA-Binding_Protein/Tata_box/3'> TATA box</scene> to represent its thymine-adenine-thymine-adenine-adenine (TATAA) nucleotide motif, in front of the start site of transcription. In binding the TATA box, the TATA-binding protein induces a sharp bend in the DNA. | The enzyme RNA polymerase performs the delicate task of unwinding the two strands of DNA and transcribing the genetic information into a strand of RNA. But how does it know where to start? Our cells contain 30,000 genes encoded in billions of nucleotides. For each gene, the cell must be able to start transcription at the right place and at the right time. The TATA-binding protein helps in the process of recruiting the enzyme RNA polymerase by first recognizing and binding to a characteristic sequence of nucleotides, called the <scene name='TATA-Binding_Protein/Tata_box/3'> TATA box</scene> to represent its thymine-adenine-thymine-adenine-adenine (TATAA) nucleotide motif, in front of the start site of transcription. In binding the TATA box, the TATA-binding protein induces a sharp bend in the DNA. | ||
| Line 6: | Line 8: | ||
Specialized DNA sequences next to genes, called promoters, define the proper start site and direction for transcription. Promoters vary in sequence and location from organism to organism. In bacteria, typical promoters contain two regions that interact with the sigma subunit of their RNA polymerase. The sigma subunit binds to these DNA sequences, assists the start of transcription, and then detaches from the polymerase as it continues transcription through the gene. Our cells have a far more complex promoter system, using dozens of different proteins to ensure that the proper RNA polymerase is targeted to each gene. The TATA-binding protein is the central element of this system. | Specialized DNA sequences next to genes, called promoters, define the proper start site and direction for transcription. Promoters vary in sequence and location from organism to organism. In bacteria, typical promoters contain two regions that interact with the sigma subunit of their RNA polymerase. The sigma subunit binds to these DNA sequences, assists the start of transcription, and then detaches from the polymerase as it continues transcription through the gene. Our cells have a far more complex promoter system, using dozens of different proteins to ensure that the proper RNA polymerase is targeted to each gene. The TATA-binding protein is the central element of this system. | ||
== The TATA Box == | == The TATA Box == | ||
