TBP and transcription

TBP is a general transcription factor present in archaea [1] and eukarya [2], and is required for transcription mediated by the three nuclear RNA polymerases (RNApol) [3]. TBP exists in the cell as a complex with 

Recently, a family of related proteins has been identified in metazoa, the TBP-like proteins or TLPs [16], which are also able to bind to DNA, albeit not to the consensus TATA boxes. The physiological role of TLPs is an area of intense research, and some proposals suggest that it sequesters other general transcription factors (such as TFIIA), thereby repressing RNApol-II transcription mediated by TBP [17]. 

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