Experimental annotation of the human genome using microarray technology.

The most important product of the sequencing of a genome is a complete, accurate catalogue of genes and their products, primarily messenger RNA transcripts and their cognate proteins. Such a catalogue cannot be constructed by computational annotation alone; it requires experimental validation on a genome scale. Using 'exon' and 'tiling' arrays fabricated by ink-jet oligonucleotide synthesis, we devised an experimental approach to validate and refine computational gene predictions and define full-length transcripts on the basis of co-regulated expression of their exons. These methods can provide more accurate gene numbers and allow the detection of mRNA splice variants and identification of the tissue- and disease-specific conditions under which genes are expressed. We apply our technique to chromosome 22q under 69 experimental condition pairs, and to the entire human genome under two experimental conditions. We discuss implications for more comprehensive, consistent and reliable genome annotation, more efficient, full-length complementary DNA cloning strategies and application to complex diseases.

Architecture of protein and DNA contacts within the TFIIIB-DNA complex.

The RNA polymerase III factor TFIIIB forms a stable complex with DNA and can promote multiple rounds of initiation by polymerase. TFIIIB is composed of three subunits, the TATA binding protein (TBP), TFIIB-related factor (BRF), and B". Chemical footprinting, as well as mutagenesis of TBP, BRF, and promoter DNA, was used to probe the architecture of TFIIIB subunits bound to DNA. BRF bound to TBP-DNA through the nonconserved C-terminal region and required 15 bp downstream of the TATA box and as little as 1 bp upstream of the TATA box for stable complex formation. In contrast, formation of complete TFIIIB complexes required 15 bp both upstream and downstream of the TATA box. Hydroxyl radical footprinting of TFIIIB complexes and modeling the results to the TBP-DNA structure suggest that BRF and B" surround TBP on both faces of the TBP-DNA complex and provide an explanation for the exceptional stability of this complex. Competition for binding to TBP by BRF and either TFIIB or TFIIA suggests that BRF binds on the opposite face of the TBP-DNA complex from TFIIB and that the binding sites for TFIIA and BRF overlap. The positions of TBP mutations which are defective in binding BRF suggest that BRF binds to the top and N-terminal leg of TBP. One mutation on the N-terminal leg of TBP specifically affects the binding of the B" subunit.