Cyclin Dependent Kinase 19 (CDK19)

CDK19 encodes a protein that is one of the components of the Mediator coactivator complex. The Mediator complex is a multiprotein complex required for transcriptional activation by DNA binding transcription factors of genes transcribed by RNA polymerase II. The protein encoded by this gene is similar to cyclin-dependent kinase 8 which can also be a component of the Mediator complex. CDK19 was found to be expressed in a diverse range of tissues including fetal eye and fetal brain. In addition, Cdk8 mutant md neurons showed diminished dendritic fields revealing an important role of the CDK19 orthologue in the developing nervous system of Drosophila. This is the first time the CDK19 gene, a component of the mediator co-activator complex, has been linked to a human disease.