Activation of archaeal transcription by recruitment of the TATA-binding protein

The hyperthermophilic archaeon Methanococcus jannaschii encodes two putative transcription regulators, Ptr1 and Ptr2, that are members of the Lrp/AsnC family of bacterial transcription regulators. In contrast, this archaeon's RNA polymerase and core transcription factors are of eukaryotic type. Using the M. jannaschii high-temperature in vitro transcription system, we show that Ptr2 is a potent transcriptional activator, and that it conveys its stimulatory effects on its cognate eukaryal-type transcription machinery from an upstream activating region composed of two Ptr2-binding sites. Transcriptional activation is generated, at least in part, by Ptr2-mediated recruitment of the TATA-binding protein to the promoter.