Genetics: Analysis and Principles 5th Edition by Robert Brooker

Exercise 3

In the technique of DNase I footprinting, the binding of a protein to a region of DNA protects that region from digestion by DNase I by blocking the ability of DNase I to gain access to the DNA. In the DNase I footprinting experiment shown here, a researcher began with a sample of cloned DNA 400 bp in length. This DNA contained a eukaryotic promoter for RNA polymerase II. The assembly of general transcription factors and RNA polymerase II at the core promoter is described in Chapter 12 (see Figure 12.14). For the sample loaded in lane 1, no proteins were added. For the sample loaded in lane 2, the 400-bp fragment was mixed with RNA polymerase II plus TFIID and TFIIB.
a.
Which region of this 400-bp fragment of DNA is bound by RNA polymerase II and TFIID and TFIIB
FIGURE 12.14 Steps leading to the formation of the open complex. The DNA is first denatured at the TATA box to form an open complex. In this diagram, the open complex has moved to the transcriptional start site, which is usually about 25 bp away from the TATA box.