TFIIA is required for in vitro transcription of mammalian U6 genes by RNA polymerase III.

Transcription factor TFIIA, defined by its role in transcription by RNA polymerase II, is also involved in RNA polymerase III transcription of mammalian U6 small nuclear RNA genes. This finding was substantiated by experimental evidence including (i) extensive copurification of an activity required for U6 transcription with TFIIA, (ii) the comparable molecular dimensions of this activity and TFIIA, (iii) the identical heat stability of both activities, and (iv) functional analyses revealing that TFIIA facilitates the interaction of TFIID with the TATA box of the U6 gene. As was shown previously for TFIID, TFIIA is the second basal transcription factor which could be demonstrated to be involved in gene expression by two different RNA polymerases.