What is the role of the TATA box?

• A. A core promoter element recognized by TBP to position RNA polymerase II for transcription initiation.
• B. A binding site for enhancers several kilobases away.
• C. A sequence that terminates transcription.
• D. A site where RNA polymerase I initiates rRNA transcription.

Answer: (A)

The TATA box is a promoter element recognized by TBP, the TATA-binding protein, which is part of the general transcription factor TFIID. Its binding positions the pre-initiation complex and helps recruit RNA polymerase II to the transcription start site, typically about 25–30 bases upstream. This placement ensures transcription begins at the correct spot and in the proper direction. While many RNA Pol II genes have a TATA box, not all do. The other concepts refer to distant enhancers, termination signals, or RNA Pol I promoters, which are not the function of the TATA box.