Term Information

Accession
GO:0140223
Name
general transcription initiation factor activity
Ontology
molecular_function
Synonyms
GTF activity, basal transcription factor activity, general transcription factor activity
Alternate IDs
None
Definition
A molecular function required for core promoter activity that mediates the assembly of the RNA polymerase holoenzyme at promoter DNA to form the pre-initiation complex (PIC). General transcription factors (GTFs) bind to and open promoter DNA, initiate RNA synthesis and stimulate the escape of the polymerase from the promoter. Not all subunits of the general transcription factor are necessarily present at all promoters to initiate transcription. GTFs act at each promoter, although the exact subunit composition at individual promoters may vary. Source: GOC:txnOH-2018
Comment
Usage guidance: The distinction between general transcription factors and DNA-binding transcription factors is that the latter modulate the selection of which genes are expressed under specific conditions, while general transcription factors are the constitutive machinery required for transcription initiation.
History
See term history for GO:0140223 at QuickGO
Subset
goslim_drosophila
goslim_generic
Feedback
Comments, changes to terms, or requests for new ontology terms can be made at GO issue tracker on GitHub.

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Parents of general transcription initiation factor activity (GO:0140223)
subject[Reorder by subject] relation[Reorder by relation] object[Reorder by object]
general transcription initiation factor activity [BFO:0000050 relation] BFO:0000050  DNA-templated transcription (GO:0006351)
general transcription initiation factor activity [is_a relation] is_a  molecular_function (GO:0003674)
Children of general transcription initiation factor activity (GO:0140223)
subject[Reorder by subject] relation[Reorder by relation] object[Reorder by object]
RNA polymerase III general transcription initiation factor activity (GO:0000995) [is_a relation] is_a  general transcription initiation factor activity
RNA polymerase I general transcription initiation factor activity (GO:0001181) [is_a relation] is_a  general transcription initiation factor activity
RNA polymerase II general transcription initiation factor activity (GO:0016251) [is_a relation] is_a  general transcription initiation factor activity
None.