title: The RNA polymerase II carboxy-terminal domain: links to a bigger and better 'holoenzyme'?
abstract: The largest subunit of eukaryotic RNA polymerase II has an unusual tandemly repeated heptapeptide sequence at its carboxyl terminus. The function of this evolutionarily conserved carboxy-terminal domain is unknown; however, new evidence links it to the formation of a large multi-component RNA polymerase II complex possessing enhanced transcriptional initiation properties. The existence of a pre-assembled RNA polymerase II 'holoenzyme' in the cell calls into question the long held view of transcription initiation as an ordered multi-step process.
authors.affiliation: Banting and Best Department of Medical Research, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Emili
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Ingles
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D012319:RNA Polymerase II / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D015533:Transcriptional Activation
chemical_list: D012319:RNA Polymerase II