title: The Mediator complex and transcription elongation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mediator is an evolutionarily conserved multisubunit RNA polymerase II (Pol II) coregulatory complex. Although Mediator was initially found to play a critical role in the regulation of the initiation of Pol II transcription, recent studies have brought to light an expanded role for Mediator at post-initiation stages of transcription.
  
  
  METHODS
  We provide a brief description of the structure of Mediator and its function in the regulation of Pol II transcription initiation, and we summarize recent findings implicating Mediator in the regulation of various stages of Pol II transcription elongation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Emerging evidence is revealing new roles for Mediator in nearly all stages of Pol II transcription, including initiation, promoter escape, elongation, pre-mRNA processing, and termination.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mediator plays a central role in the regulation of gene expression by impacting nearly all stages of mRNA synthesis. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: RNA polymerase II Transcript Elongation.
authors.affiliation: Stowers Institute for Medical Research, 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; D006801:Humans; D056892:Mediator Complex / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D012319:RNA Polymerase II / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D061805:Transcription Elongation, Genetic / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D056892:Mediator Complex; D012319:RNA Polymerase II