title: Origins and activity of the Mediator complex.
abstract: The Mediator is a large, multisubunit RNA polymerase II transcriptional regulator that was first identified in Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a factor required for responsiveness of Pol II and the general initiation factors to DNA binding transactivators. Since its discovery in yeast, Mediator has been shown to be an integral and highly evolutionarily conserved component of the Pol II transcriptional machinery with critical roles in multiple stages of transcription, from regulation of assembly of the Pol II initiation complex to regulation of Pol II elongation. Here we provide a brief overview of the evolutionary origins of Mediator, its subunit composition, and its remarkably diverse collection of activities in Pol II transcription.
authors.affiliation: Stowers Institute for Medical Research, 1000 E. 50th Street, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA. rcc@stowers.org
authors.forename: Ronald C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Conaway
authors.forename: Joan Weliky
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Conaway
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D056892:Mediator Complex / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018521:Plant Physiological Phenomena; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012319:RNA Polymerase II / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D056892:Mediator Complex; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D012319:RNA Polymerase II