The dynamic personality of TATA-binding protein

TATA-binding protein (TBP) is a central component of the transcription apparatus and its association with promoters is dynamically regulated genome-wide. Recent work has shed new light on the functional specificity of Mot1 and NC2, two factors that control TBP distribution and activity. These studies underscore how regulation of TBP globally influences fundamental aspects of gene expression, including the balance of transcriptional output from different types of promoters, and the amplitude and timing of gene activation.