Electron Crystal Structure of the Transcription Factor and DNA Repair Complex, Core TFIIH

Core TFIIH from yeast, made up of five subunits required both for RNA polymerase II transcription and nucleotide excision DNA repair, formed 2D crystals on charged lipid layers. Diffraction from electron micrographs of the crystals in negative stain extended to about 13 Å resolution, and 3D reconstruction revealed several discrete densities whose volumes corresponded well with those of individual TFIIH subunits. The structure is based on a ring of three subunits, Tfb1, Tfb2, and Tfb3, to which are appended several functional moieties: Rad3, bridged to Tfb1 by Ssl1; Ssl2, known to interact with Tfb2; and Kin28, known to interact with Tfb3.