Structure and associated DNA-helicase activity of a general transcription initiation factor that binds to RNA polymerase II

  • Nature. 1989 Oct 5;341(6241):410-4. doi: 10.1038/341410a0.
M Sopta  1 ,  Z F Burton ,  J Greenblatt
Affiliations
  • 1. Department of Medical Genetics, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
PMID: 2477704 DOI: 10.1038/341410a0
Abstract

RAP30/74 is a heteromeric general transcription initiation factor which binds to RNA polymerase II. Here we report that preparations of RAP30/74 contain an ATP-dependent DNA helicase whose probable function is to melt the DNA at transcriptional start sites. The sequence of the RAP30 subunit of RAP30/74 indicates that RAP30 may be distantly related to Bacterial sigma factors.