TAF1 Antibody

Background:

Initiation of transcription by RNA polymerase II requiresthe activities of more than 70 polypeptides. The protein thatcoordinates these activities is the basal transcription factorTFIID, which binds to the core promoter to position the polymeraseproperly, serves as the scaffold for assembly of the remainder ofthe transcription complex, and acts as a channel for regulatorysignals. TFIID is composed of the TATA-binding protein (TBP) and agroup of evolutionarily conserved proteins known as TBP-associatedfactors or TAFs. TAFs may participate in basal transcription, serveas coactivators, function in promoter recognition or modify generaltranscription factors (GTFs) to facilitate complex assembly andtranscription initiation. This gene encodes the largest subunit ofTFIID. This subunit binds to core promoter sequences encompassingthe transcription start site. It also binds to activators and othertranscriptional regulators, and these interactions affect the rateof transcription initiation. This subunit contains two independentprotein kinase domains at the N and C-terminals, but also possessesacetyltransferase activity and can act as aubiquitin-activating/conjugating enzyme. This gene is part of acomplex transcriptional unit (TAF1/DYT3), wherein some productsshare exons with TAF1 as well as additional exonsdownstream.