Requirements for preinitiation complex formation in vivo

Transcription by RNA polymerase (Pol) II requires assembly of a preinitiation complex (PIC) composed of general transcription factors (GTFs) bound at the core promoter. In vitro, the TATA-binding protein (TBP), TFIIB, TFIIF, and Pol II are essential for PIC formation and transcriptional initiation, whereas TFIIA, TFIIE, and TFIIH are not required under certain conditions. In addition, the PIC is stable in the absence of nucleotide triphosphates, and sequential addition of GTFs results in a series of partial PICs. Here, we analyze the roles of all GTFs in yeast cells by measuring PIC formation and Pol II transcription upon depletion of individual GTFs. All GTFs are essential for TBP binding and Pol II transcription in vivo, suggesting that partial PICs composed of GTF subsets do not exist at appreciable levels. In contrast, TBP-associated factors (TAFs) contribute to Pol II transcriptional activity at most (and perhaps all) genes, but TAF-independent transcription occurs at a substantial level, particularly at promoters lacking canonical TATA elements. Lastly, unlike the case in vitro, PICs are not observed in cells deprived of uracil, and presumably UTP, suggesting a mechanism that removes transcriptionally inactive PICs from promoters. Pol II occupancy is examined genome-wide by Chip-seq before and after the anchor-away of various General Transcription Factor subunits, as well as subsequent verification by qPCR and other follow-up experiments