This term is obsolete.
General transcription factors assemble with the RNA polymerase at promoter DNA to form the pre-initiation complex (PIC), bind to and open promoter DNA, initiate RNA synthesis and stimulate the escape of the polymerase from the promoter. Not all subunits of the general transcription factor are necessarily present in all promoters to initiate transcription. The distinction between general transcription factors and DNA-binding transcription factors is that the latter modulate the selection of which genes are expressed under specific conditions, while general transcription factors belong to the constitutive machinery required for transcription to occur.

GO:0016251 JSON

RNA polymerase II general transcription initiation factor activity

Molecular Function

Definition (GO:0016251 GONUTS page)

A general transcription initiation factor activity that contributes to transcription start site selection and transcription initiation of genes transcribed by RNA polymerase II. The general transcription factors for RNA polymerase II include TFIIB, TFIID, TFIIE, TFIIF, TFIIH and TATA-binding protein (TBP). In most species, RNA polymerase II transcribes all messenger RNAs (mRNAs), most untranslated regulatory RNAs, the majority of the snoRNAs, four of the five snRNAs (U1, U2, U4, and U5), and other small noncoding RNAs. For some small RNAs there is variability between species as to whether it is transcribed by RNA polymerase II or RNA polymerase III. However there are also rare exceptions, such as Trypanosoma brucei, where RNA polymerase I transcribes certain mRNAs in addition to its normal role in rRNA transcription. PMID:10384286 PMID:10747032 PMID:23442138 PMID:25693126

Comments

General transcription factors assemble with the RNA polymerase at promoter DNA to form the pre-initiation complex (PIC), bind to and open promoter DNA, initiate RNA synthesis and stimulate the escape of the polymerase from the promoter. Not all subunits of the general transcription factor are necessarily present in all promoters to initiate transcription. The distinction between general transcription factors and DNA-binding transcription factors is that the latter modulate the selection of which genes are expressed under specific conditions, while general transcription factors belong to the constitutive machinery required for transcription to occur.

Secondary IDs

GO:0000983, GO:0001075, GO:0003703

66,235 annotations

Synonyms

Synonyms are alternative words or phrases closely related in meaning to the term name, with indication of the relationship between the name and synonym given by the synonym scope.

Synonym Type
basal RNA polymerase II transcription factor activity exact
general RNA polymerase II transcription factor activity exact
transcription factor activity, RNA polymerase II core promoter sequence-specific DNA binding related
sequence-specific core promoter binding RNA polymerase II transcription factor activity involved in preinitiation complex assembly related
RNA polymerase II core promoter sequence-specific DNA binding transcription factor activity involved in preinitiation complex assembly related
RNA polymerase II core promoter sequence-specific DNA binding transcription factor activity related
transcription factor activity, RNA polymerase II core promoter sequence-specific binding involved in preinitiation complex assembly related
GTF2 activity exact

Ancestor Chart

Ancestor chart for GO:0016251
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Ancestor chart

Taxon Constraints

The use of this term should conform to the following taxon constraints:

Ancestor GO ID Ancestor GO Term Name Relationship Taxon ID Taxon Reference(s)
GO:0016251 RNA polymerase II general transcription initiation factor activity Never in Taxon 2 Bacteria

More information on taxon constraints in GO is available here

Annotation Blacklist

This list aims to correct incorrect annotations to UniProtKB accessions inferred from electronic annotation (IEA) methods that are supplied by the UniProt-GOA project to the GO Consortium:

Category Entity Type Entity ID Taxon ID Entity Name Ancestor GO ID Reason Rule/Method ID
NOT-qualified manual protein Q96327 3702 EBP1_ARATH GO:0006351 1 NOT-qualified manual annotation exists with evidence code ECO:0000314 from this reference: PMID:15689342

Cross-references

Database ID Description
InterPro IPR021281 Small nuclear RNA activating complex subunit 2
InterPro IPR037796 Transcription initiation factor TFIID subunit 6
InterPro IPR040240 Transcription initiation factor TFIID subunit 1

Replaces

This term can be used instead of these obsolete terms:

GO Identifier GO Term Name Reason
GO:0016252 obsolete nonspecific RNA polymerase II transcription factor activity consider GO:0016251

Co-occurring Terms

These tables show the number of times the term listed in the table has been co-annotated.

No co-occurrence statistics for GO:0016251 based on ALL annotations
The top 100 of 761 co-occurring terms
Co-occurring Term PR S% #Together #Compared
RNA polymerase II general transcription initiation factor activity
3,015.69 100.00 65,708 65,708
transcription factor TFIID complex
2,202.74 57.27 47,713 65,322
RNA polymerase II preinitiation complex assembly
2,263.14 40.22 30,509 40,654
transcription initiation at RNA polymerase II promoter
1,384.59 37.74 44,655 97,260
TBP-class protein binding
888.21 14.08 13,953 47,374
SAGA complex
787.81 13.72 14,722 56,355
SLIK (SAGA-like) complex
2,127.08 9.05 6,183 8,766
negative cofactor 2 complex
3,005.08 9.05 5,951 5,972
protein heterodimerization activity
294.51 8.46 25,422 260,315
TFIIF-class transcription factor complex binding
2,942.29 6.15 4,049 4,150
Totals 502542 20708118
No co-occurrence statistics for GO:0016251 based on MANUAL annotations
The top 100 of 393 co-occurring terms
Co-occurring Term PR S% #Together #Compared
RNA polymerase II general transcription initiation factor activity
622.92 100.00 2,266 2,266
transcription factor TFIID complex
434.45 44.63 1,254 1,798
RNA polymerase II preinitiation complex assembly
473.70 38.74 1,000 1,315
TBP-class protein binding
453.76 25.01 625 858
transcription initiation at RNA polymerase II promoter
229.77 20.45 713 1,933
DNA-templated transcription initiation
372.34 20.18 529 885
SAGA complex
175.05 12.18 401 1,427
transcription preinitiation complex
277.26 11.36 300 674
transcription factor TFIIA complex
432.51 6.81 159 229
core promoter sequence-specific DNA binding
240.90 6.67 169 437
Totals 10571 385762

Change Log

Timestamp Action Category Detail
2024-09-05 Added CONSTRAINT never_in_taxon NCBITaxon:2 (Bacteria)
2020-11-10 Deleted DEFINITION A general transcription initiation factor activity that contributes to transcription start site selection and transcription initiation of genes transcribed by RNA polymerase II. The general transcription factors for RNA polymerase II include TFIIB, TFIID, TFIIE, TFIIF, TFIIH and TATA-binding protein (TBP). RNA polymerase II transcribes all messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and most regulatory, untranslated RNAs.
2020-11-10 Added DEFINITION A general transcription initiation factor activity that contributes to transcription start site selection and transcription initiation of genes transcribed by RNA polymerase II. The general transcription factors for RNA polymerase II include TFIIB, TFIID, TFIIE, TFIIF, TFIIH and TATA-binding protein (TBP). In most species, RNA polymerase II transcribes all messenger RNAs (mRNAs), most untranslated regulatory RNAs, the majority of the snoRNAs, four of the five snRNAs (U1, U2, U4, and U5), and other small noncoding RNAs. For some small RNAs there is variability between species as to whether it is transcribed by RNA polymerase II or RNA polymerase III. However there are also rare exceptions, such as Trypanosoma brucei, where RNA polymerase I transcribes certain mRNAs in addition to its normal role in rRNA transcription.
2020-11-07 Deleted DEFINITION An activity that contributes to transcription start site selection and transcription initiation of genes transcribed by RNA polymerase II. The general transcription factors for RNA polymerase II include TFIIB, TFIID, TFIIE, TFIIF, TFIIH and TATA-binding protein (TBP).
2020-11-07 Added DEFINITION A general transcription initiation factor activity that contributes to transcription start site selection and transcription initiation of genes transcribed by RNA polymerase II. The general transcription factors for RNA polymerase II include TFIIB, TFIID, TFIIE, TFIIF, TFIIH and TATA-binding protein (TBP). RNA polymerase II transcribes all messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and most regulatory, untranslated RNAs.
2018-10-18 Added SYNONYM RNA polymerase II core promoter sequence-specific DNA binding transcription factor activity
2018-10-18 Added SYNONYM transcription factor activity, RNA polymerase II core promoter sequence-specific binding involved in preinitiation complex assembly
2018-10-18 Added SECONDARY GO:0000983 (transcription factor activity, RNA polymerase II core promoter sequence-specific DNA binding)
2018-10-18 Added SECONDARY GO:0001075 (transcription factor activity, RNA polymerase II core promoter sequence-specific binding involved in preinitiation complex assembly)
2018-10-18 Added SYNONYM transcription factor activity, RNA polymerase II core promoter sequence-specific DNA binding
Timestamp Action Category Detail
2018-05-31 Updated TERM RNA polymerase II general transcription initiation factor activity
2015-06-18 Updated TERM obsolete general RNA polymerase II transcription factor activity
2011-05-16 Updated TERM general RNA polymerase II transcription factor activity
2003-03-19 Updated TERM general RNA polymerase II transcription factor activity
2002-02-06 Updated TERM general RNA polymerase II transcription factor
2001-04-03 Updated TERM general RNA polymerase II transcription factor
2001-03-30 Added TERM general RNA polymerase II transcription factor
Timestamp Action Category Detail
2020-11-10 Deleted DEFINITION A general transcription initiation factor activity that contributes to transcription start site selection and transcription initiation of genes transcribed by RNA polymerase II. The general transcription factors for RNA polymerase II include TFIIB, TFIID, TFIIE, TFIIF, TFIIH and TATA-binding protein (TBP). RNA polymerase II transcribes all messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and most regulatory, untranslated RNAs.
2020-11-10 Added DEFINITION A general transcription initiation factor activity that contributes to transcription start site selection and transcription initiation of genes transcribed by RNA polymerase II. The general transcription factors for RNA polymerase II include TFIIB, TFIID, TFIIE, TFIIF, TFIIH and TATA-binding protein (TBP). In most species, RNA polymerase II transcribes all messenger RNAs (mRNAs), most untranslated regulatory RNAs, the majority of the snoRNAs, four of the five snRNAs (U1, U2, U4, and U5), and other small noncoding RNAs. For some small RNAs there is variability between species as to whether it is transcribed by RNA polymerase II or RNA polymerase III. However there are also rare exceptions, such as Trypanosoma brucei, where RNA polymerase I transcribes certain mRNAs in addition to its normal role in rRNA transcription.
2020-11-07 Deleted DEFINITION An activity that contributes to transcription start site selection and transcription initiation of genes transcribed by RNA polymerase II. The general transcription factors for RNA polymerase II include TFIIB, TFIID, TFIIE, TFIIF, TFIIH and TATA-binding protein (TBP).
2020-11-07 Added DEFINITION A general transcription initiation factor activity that contributes to transcription start site selection and transcription initiation of genes transcribed by RNA polymerase II. The general transcription factors for RNA polymerase II include TFIIB, TFIID, TFIIE, TFIIF, TFIIH and TATA-binding protein (TBP). RNA polymerase II transcribes all messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and most regulatory, untranslated RNAs.
2018-10-18 Added SYNONYM RNA polymerase II core promoter sequence-specific DNA binding transcription factor activity
2018-10-18 Added SYNONYM transcription factor activity, RNA polymerase II core promoter sequence-specific binding involved in preinitiation complex assembly
2018-10-18 Added SYNONYM transcription factor activity, RNA polymerase II core promoter sequence-specific DNA binding
2018-10-18 Added SYNONYM RNA polymerase II core promoter sequence-specific DNA binding transcription factor activity involved in preinitiation complex assembly
2018-10-18 Added SYNONYM sequence-specific core promoter binding RNA polymerase II transcription factor activity involved in preinitiation complex assembly
2018-05-31 Deleted DEFINITION OBSOLETE. Any function that supports basal (unregulated) transcription of genes by core RNA polymerase II. Five general transcription factors are necessary and sufficient for such basal transcription in yeast: TFIIB, TFIID, TFIIE, TFIIF, TFIIH and TATA-binding protein (TBF).
2018-05-31 Added DEFINITION An activity that contributes to transcription start site selection and transcription initiation of genes transcribed by RNA polymerase II. The general transcription factors for RNA polymerase II include TFIIB, TFIID, TFIIE, TFIIF, TFIIH and TATA-binding protein (TBP).
2018-05-31 Added SYNONYM GTF2 activity
2018-05-31 Added SYNONYM basal RNA polymerase II transcription factor activity
2015-06-18 Added SYNONYM general RNA polymerase II transcription factor activity
2011-05-16 Added DEFINITION OBSOLETE. Any function that supports basal (unregulated) transcription of genes by core RNA polymerase II. Five general transcription factors are necessary and sufficient for such basal transcription in yeast: TFIIB, TFIID, TFIIE, TFIIF, TFIIH and TATA-binding protein (TBF).
2011-05-16 Deleted DEFINITION Any function that supports basal (unregulated) transcription of genes by core RNA polymerase II. Five general transcription factors are necessary and sufficient for such basal transcription in yeast: TFIIB, TFIID, TFIIE, TFIIF, TFIIH and TATA-binding protein (TBF).
2008-05-13 Added DEFINITION Any function that supports basal (unregulated) transcription of genes by core RNA polymerase II. Five general transcription factors are necessary and sufficient for such basal transcription in yeast: TFIIB, TFIID, TFIIE, TFIIF, TFIIH and TATA-binding protein (TBF).
2008-05-12 Deleted DEFINITION Any function that supports basal (unregulated) transcription of genes by core RNA polymerase II. Five general transcription factors are necessary and sufficient for such basal transcription in yeast: TFIIB, TFIID, TFIIE, TFIIF, TFIIH and TATA-binding protein (TBF).
2003-03-26 Updated DEFINITION Any function that supports basal (unregulated) transcription of genes by core RNA polymerase II. Five general transcription factors are necessary and sufficient for such basal transcription in yeast: TFIIB, TFIID, TFIIE, TFIIF, TFIIH and TATA-binding protein (TBF).
2003-03-19 Deleted SYNONYM non-specific RNA polymerase II transcription factor
2003-03-19 Deleted SYNONYM general RNA polymerase II transcription factor
2002-11-27 Updated DEFINITION The functions that supports basal (unregulated) transcription of genes by core RNA polymerase II. Five general transcription factors are necessary and sufficient for such basal transcription in yeast: TFIIB, TFIID, TFIIE, TFIIF, TFIIH and TATA-binding protein (TBF).
2002-05-30 Added SYNONYM general RNA polymerase II transcription factor
2002-05-23 Added SYNONYM non-specific RNA polymerase II transcription factor
2001-08-06 Added DEFINITION A protein that is required to support basal (unregulated) transcription of genes by core RNA polymerase II. Five general transcription factors are necessary and sufficient for such basal transcription in yeast: TFIIB, TFIID, TFIIE, TFIIF, TFIIH and TATA-binding protein (TBF).
Timestamp Action Category Detail
2018-08-20 Deleted RELATION part of GO:0006357 (regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase II)
2018-08-20 Added RELATION part of GO:0006366 (transcription by RNA polymerase II)
2018-05-31 Added RELATION is a GO:0140223 (general transcription initiation factor activity)
2018-05-31 Added RELATION part of GO:0006357 (regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase II)
2011-05-16 Deleted RELATION is a GO:0003702 (obsolete RNA polymerase II transcription factor activity)
2008-04-01 Updated RELATION is a GO:0003702 (obsolete RNA polymerase II transcription factor activity)
Timestamp Action Category Detail
Timestamp Action Category Detail
2024-09-05 Added CONSTRAINT never_in_taxon NCBITaxon:2 (Bacteria)
2018-10-18 Added SECONDARY GO:0000983 (transcription factor activity, RNA polymerase II core promoter sequence-specific DNA binding)
2018-10-18 Added SECONDARY GO:0001075 (transcription factor activity, RNA polymerase II core promoter sequence-specific binding involved in preinitiation complex assembly)
2018-05-31 Deleted OBSOLETION consider GO:0000981 (DNA-binding transcription factor activity, RNA polymerase II-specific)
2018-05-31 Deleted OBSOLETION consider GO:0006366 (transcription by RNA polymerase II)
2018-05-31 Deleted OBSOLETION consider GO:0000991 (obsolete transcription factor activity, core RNA polymerase II binding)
2018-05-31 Deleted OBSOLETION consider GO:0001076 (obsolete transcription factor activity, RNA polymerase II transcription factor binding)
2011-05-16 Added OBSOLETION consider GO:0001076 (obsolete transcription factor activity, RNA polymerase II transcription factor binding)
2011-05-16 Added OBSOLETION consider GO:0000991 (obsolete transcription factor activity, core RNA polymerase II binding)
2011-05-16 Added OBSOLETION consider GO:0000981 (DNA-binding transcription factor activity, RNA polymerase II-specific)
2011-05-16 Added OBSOLETION consider GO:0006366 (transcription by RNA polymerase II)
2002-06-14 Deleted SECONDARY GO:0016252 (obsolete nonspecific RNA polymerase II transcription factor activity)
2002-05-23 Added SECONDARY GO:0016252 (obsolete nonspecific RNA polymerase II transcription factor activity)
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