transcription factor TFIIH holo complex

GO:0005675 · Other · Multiprotein complex · Proposed

A complex that is capable of kinase activity directed towards the C-terminal Domain (CTD) of the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II and is essential for initiation at RNA polymerase II promoters in vitro. It is composed of the core TFIIH complex and the TFIIK complex. [GO:0005675]

Synonyms: holo TFIIH complex; cyclin-dependent protein kinase activating kinase holoenzyme complex; CAK complex; CDK-activating kinase

Has part: core TFIIH complex portion of holo TFIIH complex (GO:0000438); transcription factor TFIIK complex (GO:0070985)

UniProt location names: UniProt Consortium, CC BY 4.0. Reference label and route sources.

Components

Component	Type	Part of / acts on	Grounding	Genes	Stoichiometry	Essential	Role
core TFIIH complex portion of holo TFIIH complex	Protein complex	part of	`GO:0000438`				Seven-subunit core TFIIH subcomplex when it is embedded inside the TFIIH holo complex. `GO:0005675` GO:0005675 defines holo TFIIH as composed of the core TFIIH complex and the TFIIK complex. `GO:0000438` GO:0000438 denotes the core TFIIH complex portion when it is part of holo TFIIH.
transcription factor TFIIK complex	Protein complex	part of	`GO:0070985`				Cyclin/CDK kinase subcomplex that forms the TFIIH kinase module in holo TFIIH. `GO:0005675` GO:0005675 defines holo TFIIH as composed of the core TFIIH complex and the TFIIK complex. `GO:0070985` GO:0070985 defines the transcription factor TFIIK complex as part of holo TFIIH.

Taxonomic distribution

NCBITaxon:4932 Saccharomyces cerevisiae — COMMON: GO:0000438 denotes the holo-TFIIH-specific core TFIIH portion, and GO:0070985 defines TFIIK using Saccharomyces/human subunit names. [GO:0070985]

Canonical examples

NCBITaxon:4932 Saccharomyces cerevisiae — The GO definitions of the holo-TFIIH core and TFIIK subcomplexes name budding-yeast counterparts for both parts of the TFIIH holo complex. [GO:0070985]

Mechanism graphs

Core TFIIH and TFIIK form holo TFIIH (ASSEMBLY)

The general transcription factor TFIIH holo complex is composed of a TFIIH core subcomplex and the TFIIK kinase subcomplex.

Subject	Predicate	Object	Evidence
core TFIIH complex portion of holo TFIIH complex	contributes to	transcription factor TFIIH holo complex	`GO:0005675` GO:0005675 defines holo TFIIH as composed of the core TFIIH complex and TFIIK. `GO:0000438` GO:0000438 denotes core TFIIH specifically when it is part of holo TFIIH.
transcription factor TFIIK complex	contributes to	transcription factor TFIIH holo complex	`GO:0005675` GO:0005675 defines holo TFIIH as composed of the core TFIIH complex and TFIIK. `GO:0070985` GO:0070985 defines TFIIK as part of holo TFIIH.

Discussions

INTERPRETATION (RESOLVED): Model holo TFIIH as core TFIIH plus TFIIK, without flattening both subcomplexes into protein constituents. GO:0005675 denotes the whole TFIIH holo complex and defines it as composed of the core TFIIH complex and TFIIK. The core has a separate GO:0000438 portion term, and TFIIK has the separate GO:0070985 component term.

Evidence

GO:0005675 Gene Ontology cellular-component term for the general transcription factor TFIIH holo complex, including exact, related, and broad synonymy.
GO:0000438 Gene Ontology cellular-component term for the core TFIIH complex portion when it is part of holo TFIIH.
GO:0070985 Gene Ontology cellular-component term for the TFIIK subcomplex of holo TFIIH.
GO:0019908 OLS reports GO:0019908 nuclear cyclin-dependent protein kinase holoenzyme complex as a GO:0005675 is-a parent.
GO:0032806 OLS reports GO:0032806 carboxy-terminal domain protein kinase complex as a GO:0005675 is-a parent.
GO:0090575 OLS reports GO:0090575 RNA polymerase II transcription regulator complex as a GO:0005675 is-a parent.
PMID:14500720 PubMed identifier cited by GO:0005675 for holo TFIIH.
PMID:22308316 PubMed identifier cited by GO:0005675 for holo TFIIH.
PMID:22572993 PubMed identifier cited by both GO:0005675 and GO:0070985 for TFIIH/TFIIK.
PMID:7813015 PubMed identifier cited by GO:0005675 for holo TFIIH.
PMID:19818408 PubMed identifier cited by GO:0070985 for TFIIK.

Curation history

2026-10-01T01:04:34Z codex · CREATED_RECORD — Scaffolded by scripts/new_record.py
2026-10-01T01:06:19Z codex · EXPANDED_RECORD — Added GO synonymy, three direct holo-TFIIH parent terms, GO-grounded core TFIIH and TFIIK subcomplex components, Saccharomyces scope, a nonmechanistic subcomplex assembly graph, and a boundary discussion.

Source: data/structures/other/transcription_factor_tfiih_holo_complex.yaml