The structural characterization of eukaryotic transcription factors that interact with DNA has advanced on two fronts in the past two years. New complexes of transcription factors bound to TATA-box DNA include the TFIIA-TBP-DNA complex as well as human and archaeal TBP-DNA and TFIIB-TBP-DNA complexes, respectively. In addition, recent studies of proximal/distal promoter complexes demonstrate that DNA-binding motifs may be modified in nature by adding secondary structure elements to diversify DNA-binding specificities and affinities.