Transcription initiation factor TFIID subunit 8 (TAF8 or TAF(II)65) is a component of the general purpose transcription factor complex TFIID [, ]. TAF8 contains a histone fold domain []. This entry includes TAF8 from animals, plants and fungi.The DNA-binding general transcription factor complex TFIID is central to the initiation of DNA-dependent RNA polymerase II transcription. TFIID is the only general transcription initiation factor that bind to the TATA box. The binding of TFIID to the TATA-box is the first step in the formation of a complex able to initiate transcription []. TFIID consists of the TATA binding protein (TBP) and 14 TBP-associated factors (TAFs). One copy of each TAF1, TAF2, TAF3, TAF7, TAF8, TAF11, TAF13, two copies of each TAF4, TAF5, TAF6, TAF9, TAF10, TAF12, and three copies of TAF14 [].
The TATA Binding Protein (TBP) Associated Factor 8 (TAF8) is one of several TAFs that bind TBP, and is involved in forming the Transcription Factor IID (TFIID) complex. TAF8 plays a role in the differentiation of preadipocyte fibroblasts to adipocytes; it is also required for the integration of TAF10 into the TAF complex. The mouse ortholog of TAF8 is called taube nuss protein (TBN), and is required for early embryonic development. TBN mutant mice exhibit disturbances in the balance between cell death and cell survival in the early embryo. TAF8 plays a role in the differentiation of preadipocyte fibroblasts to adipocytes; it is also required for the integration of TAF10 into the TAF complex. In yeast and human cells, TAFs have been found as components of other complexes besides TFIID. TAF8 is also a component of a small TAF complex (SMAT), which contains TAF8, TAF10 and SUPT7L. Several TAFs interact via histone-fold motifs. The histone fold (HFD) is the interaction motif involved in heterodimerization of the core histones and their assembly into nucleosome octamer. TAF8 contains an H4 related histone fold motif, and interacts with several subunits of TFIID, including TBP and the histone-fold protein TAF10. Currently, five HF-containing TAF pairs have been described or suggested to exist in TFIID: TAF6-TAF9, TAF4-TAF12, TAF11-TAF13, TAF8-TAF10 and TAF3-TAF10 [, , , , ].This entry represents the C-terminal region of subunit 8 (also known as TAF8) of the transcription factor TFIID []. The adjacent N-terminal region generally contains a histone fold domain (). This subunit is one of the key subunits of TFIID, being one of several general cofactors which are typically involved in gene activation to bring about the communication between gene-specific transcription factors and components of the general transcription machinery [].
