RB, the protein product of the retinoblastoma tumor-suppressor gene, regulates the activity of specific transcription factors. This regulation appears to be mediated either directly through interactions with specific transcription factors or through an alternative mechanism. Here we report that stimulation of Sp1-mediated transcription by RB is partially abrogated at the nonpermissive temperature in ts13 cells. These cells contain a temperature-sensitive mutation in the TATA-binding protein-associated factor TAFII250, first identified as the cell cycle regulatory protein CCG1. The stimulation of Sp1-mediated transcription by RB in ts13 cells at the nonpermissive temperature could be restored by the introduction of wild-type human TAFII250. Furthermore, we demonstrate that RB binds directly to hTAFII250 in vitro and in vivo. These results suggest that RB can confer transcriptional regulation and possibly cell cycle control and tumor suppression through an interaction with TFIID, in particular with TAFII250.
