In eukaryotic systems, initiation of transcription from protein-coding genes is a complex process requiring RNA polymerase II and broad families of auxiliary transcription factors. Such factors can be divided into two major functional classes: the basal factors that are required for transcription of all Pol II genes, including TFIIA, TFIIB, TFIID, TFIIE, TFIIF and TFIIH; and sequencespecific factors that regulate gene expression. The basal transcription factors and Pol II form a specific multiprotein complex near the transcriptional start site by interacting with core promotor elements such as the TATA box generally located 25-30 base pairs upstream of the transcription start site. Human TFIIE consists of two subunits of 56 kDa and 34 kDa molecular weight, respectively. The structure of TFIIE appears to be a heterotetramer((alpha)2 (beta)2) both subunits being required for optimal basal-level transcription .