Transcription factor II E (TF<sub>II</sub>E) is one of several general transcription factors that make up the RNA polymerase II preinitiation complex. It is a tetramer of two alpha and two beta chains and interacts with TAF6/TAFII80, ATF7IP, and varicella-zoster virus IE63 protein.
TF<sub>II</sub>E recruits TF<sub>II</sub>H to the initiation complex and stimulates the RNA polymerase II C-terminal domain kinase and DNA-dependent ATPase activities of TF<sub>II</sub>H. Both TF<sub>II</sub>H and TF<sub>II</sub>E are required for promoter clearance by RNA polymerase. Transcription factor II E is encoded by the GTF2E1 and GTF2E2 genes. TF<sub>II</sub>E is thought to be involved in DNA melting at the promoter: it contains a zinc ribbon motif that can bind single stranded DNA.