Two Different CDNAs Encoding TFIID Proteins of Maize

Two different complementary DNAs (cDNAs) encoding maize TFIID proteins were isolated from a maize leaf cDNA. Both cDNA sequences reveal two types of TFIID, each encoding an open reading frame of 200 amino acids. The two cDNAs are 76% identical at the DNA level and their putative amino acid sequences differ at only three amino acids. Like TATA box binding proteins from other organisms they show a bipartite structure containing a specific N-terminal region and a highly conserved C-terminal domain expected to be necessary and sufficient for the essential TFIID functions in transcriptional initiation.