Isolation and characterization of two human transcription factor IIH (TFIIH)-related complexes: ERCC2/CAK and TFIIH

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1996 Jun 25;93(13):6482-7. doi: 10.1073/pnas.93.13.6482.

Abstract

Transcription factor IIH (TFIIH) is a multisubunit protein complex essential for both the initiation of RNA polymerase class II (pol II)-catalyzed transcription and nucleotide excision repair of DNA. Recent studies have shown that TFIIH copurifies with the cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk)-activating kinase complex (CAK) that includes cdk7, cyclin H, and p36/MAT1. Here we report the isolation of two TFIIH-related complexes: TFIIH* and ERCC2/CAK. TFIIH* consists of a subset of the TFIIH complex proteins including ERCC3 (XPB), p62, p44, p41, and p34 but is devoid of detectable levels of ERCC2 (XPD) and CAK. ERCC2/CAK was isolated as a complex that exhibits CAK activity that cosediments with the three CAK components (cdk7, cyclin H, and p36/MAT1) as well as the ERCC2 (XPD) protein. TFIIH* can support pol II-catalyzed transcription in vitro with lower efficiency compared with TFIIH. This TFIIH*-dependent transcription reaction was stimulated by ERCC2/CAK. The ERCC2/CAK and TFIIH* complexes are each active in DNA repair as shown by their ability to complement extracts prepared from ERCC2 (XPD)- and ERCC3 (XPB)-deficient cells, respectively, in supporting the excision of DNA containing a cholesterol lesion. These data suggest that TFIIH* and ERCC2/CAK interact to form the TFIIH holoenzyme capable of efficiently assembling the pol II transcription initiation complex and directly participating in excision repair reactions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • CHO Cells
  • Chromatography, Ion Exchange
  • Cricetinae
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinases / isolation & purification*
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinases / metabolism
  • DNA Helicases*
  • DNA Repair
  • DNA-Binding Proteins*
  • Humans
  • Proteins / isolation & purification*
  • Proteins / metabolism
  • RNA Polymerase II / metabolism
  • Transcription Factor TFIIH
  • Transcription Factors / isolation & purification*
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors, TFII*
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Xeroderma Pigmentosum Group D Protein

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • Transcription Factors, TFII
  • Transcription Factor TFIIH
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinases
  • RNA Polymerase II
  • DNA Helicases
  • Xeroderma Pigmentosum Group D Protein
  • ERCC2 protein, human