Final answer:
The TATA-binding protein (TBP) binds to the TATA box within the core promoter region and helps initiate transcription.
Step-by-step explanation:
The protein that binds to the TATA box is called the TATA-binding protein (TBP), which is a part of the protein complex TFIID. The TATA box, with the consensus sequence 5'-TATAAA-3', is a binding site within the core promoter region, about 25 to 35 bases upstream of the transcriptional start site. When TFIID binds to the TATA box, it recruits other transcription factors to form the transcription initiation complex and helps activate the process of transcription.