InterPro domain: IPR012295

The TATA-box binding protein (TBP) is required for the initiation of transcription by RNA polymerases I, II and III, from promoters with or without a TATA box [ 1 , 2 ]. The core of TBP (~180 residues) is highly conserved and contains two 77-amino acid repeats that produce a saddle-shaped structure that straddles the DNA; this region binds to the TATA box, and interacts with transcription factors and regulatory proteins [ 3 ].

TBP shares structural similarity with the C-terminal of beta(2)-adaptin, which is one of four subunits that comprise the clathrin adaptor. This structure can also be found in the N terminus of RNase H3. The N terminus of RNase H3 is suggested to be a substrate binding domain [ 4 ].

1. Diversified transcription initiation complexes expand promoter selectivity and tissue-specific gene expression. Genes Dev. 17, 1309-20
2. Control of gene expression through regulation of the TATA-binding protein. Gene 255, 1-14
3. Crystal structure of TFIID TATA-box binding protein. Nature 360, 40-6
4. Identification of the substrate binding site in the N-terminal TBP-like domain of RNase H3. FEBS Lett. 585, 2313-7