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The Mediator of RNA polymerase II

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Abstract

Mediator (TRAP/ARC/PC2) is a large (22–28 subunit) protein complex that binds RNA polymerase II and controls transcription from class II genes. The evolutionarily conserved core of Mediator is found in all eukaryotes. It binds RNA polymerase II and is probably critical for basal transcription but it also mediates activation and repression of transcription. During evolution the complex has acquired additional species-specific subunits. These serve as an interface for regulatory factors and support specific signalling pathways. Recent mechanistic studies are consistent with the hypothesis that Mediator marks genes for binding by RNA polymerase II whereupon it subsequently activates the preinitiation complex. It is further likely that Mediator coordinates the recruitment of chromatin-modifying cofactor activities.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Sally Rushton for critical reading of the manuscript. This work was supported by grants from the DFG, the TMR research training program of the EC (HPRN-CT-2002-00261) and the BMBF proteomics platform technology program (031U101F and 0313030A) to M.M.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Research Center for Environment and Health-GSF, Gene Expression, Institute of Molecular Immunology, Marchioninistrasse 25, 81377, Munich, Germany

    Erik Blazek & Michael Meisterernst

  2. Center for Experimental Bioinformatics (CEBI), Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230, Odense M, Denmark

    Gerhard Mittler

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  1. Erik Blazek
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  2. Gerhard Mittler
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  3. Michael Meisterernst
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Correspondence to Michael Meisterernst.

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Communicated by E.A. Nigg

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Blazek, E., Mittler, G. & Meisterernst, M. The Mediator of RNA polymerase II. Chromosoma 113, 399–408 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00412-005-0329-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00412-005-0329-5

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