RNA polymerase-associated protein RTF1 homolog (RTF1)

RNA polymerase-associated protein RTF1 homolog (RTF1) is a pivotal transcription elongation factor and subunit of the PAF1 complex, which is associated with actively transcribing RNA polymerase II[1]. RTF1 is critical for efficient transcription elongation and chromatin remodeling, primarily through its Plus3 domain, which binds to both RNA polymerase II and the DSIF elongation factor SPT5[1]. It stimulates the velocity of RNA polymerase II during gene transcription, and is uniquely required for cotranscriptional histone modifications such as H2B ubiquitination and H3-K4/K79 methylation, linking DNA transcription with chromatin structure modulation[1][2][3][4][5]. RTF1 can in some contexts function independently from the canonical PAF1 complex[1]. While not a current therapeutic target, it is essential for proper gene regulation, and dysfunction may participate in the epigenetic dysregulation found in some diseases[1][2][3].

Other names

GTL7KIAA0252Paf1/RNA polymerase II complex component homologRtf1gene trap locus 7 ortholog