This gene encodes a TAF (TATA box-binding protein-associated factor), which associates with TBP (TATA box-binding protein) to form the B-TFIID complex that is required for transcription initiation of genes by RNA polymerase II. This TAF has DNA-dependent ATPase activity, which drives the dissociation of TBP from DNA, freeing the TBP to associate with other TATA boxes or TATA-less promoters. [provided by RefSeq, Sep 2011].
Chicca, Auble, Pugh: "Cloning and biochemical characterization of TAF-172, a human homolog of yeast Mot1." in: Molecular and cellular biology, Vol. 18, Issue 3, pp. 1701-10, (1998) (PubMed).