Mediator Complex Subunit 8 (MED8)

Mediator of RNA polymerase II transcription subunit 8 is one of more than 20 subunits of the mediator complex, first identified in S. cerevisiae, that is required for activation of transcription. The product of this gene also interacts with elongins B and C, and CUL2 and RBX1, to reconstitute a ubiquitin ligase. Five alternative transcripts encoding four isoforms have been described. MED8 is a component of the mediator complex, which in S. cerevisiae is composed of more than 20 subunits and is required for transcriptional activation. MED8 can also assemble with elongin B , elongin C , and other subunits to form a ubiquitin ligase complex. MED8 shares significant similarity throughout its N terminus with S. pombe and S. cerevisiae Med8.