TI  -   <prot>p53</prot>   transcriptional activation mediated by coactivators  <prot>TAFII40</prot>  and
       <prot>TAFII60</prot> .
PG  - 100-4
AB  - The tumor suppressor protein <prot>p53</prot> is a transcriptional regulator that
      enhances the expression of proteins that control cellular proliferation.
      The multisubunit <prot>transcription factor IID</prot> (<prot>TFIID</prot>) is thought to be a
      primary target for site-specific activators of transcription. Here, a
      direct interaction between the activation domain of   <prot>p53</prot>   and two subunits
      of the <prot>TFIID</prot> complex,  <prot>TAFII40</prot>  and  <prot>TAFII60</prot> , is reported. A double point
      mutation in the activation domain of   <prot>p53</prot>   impaired the ability of this
      domain to activate transcription and, simultaneously, its ability to
      interact with both  <prot>TAFII40</prot>  and  <prot>TAFII60</prot> . Furthermore, a partial <prot>TFIID</prot>
      complex containing Drosophila <prot>TATA binding protein</prot> (<prot>dTBP</prot>), human <prot>TAFII250</prot>,
      <prot>dTAFII60</prot>, and <prot>dTAFII40</prot> supported activation by a Gal4-p53 fusion protein
      in vitro, whereas <prot>TBP</prot> or a subcomplex lacking <prot>TAFII40</prot> and <prot>TAFII60</prot> did not.
      Together, these results suggest that  <prot>TAFII40</prot>  and  <prot>TAFII60</prot>  are important
      targets for transmitting activation signals between   <prot>p53</prot>   and the initiation
      complex.
AD  - Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley 94720.
