A role for the TATA-box-binding protein component of the transcription factor IID complex as a general RNA polymerase III transcription factor.

The major class of vertebrate genes transcribed by RNA polymerase (EC 2.7.7.6) III, which includes 5S rRNA genes, tRNA genes, and the adenovirus VA genes, is characterized by split internal promoters and no absolute dependence upon specific upstream sequences. Fractionation experiments have shown that transcription of such genes requires two general RNA polymerase III-specific factors, TFIIIB and TFIIIC. We now demonstrate that a third general factor is also employed by these genes. This is the TATA-box-binding protein originally identified as being a component of the general RNA polymerase II transcription factor TFIID. This protein is involved in the transcription by RNA polymerase III of every template tested, even though the promoters of VA and most vertebrate tRNA and 5S rRNA genes do not contain recognizable TATA elements.