cdk9 — Schizosaccharomyces pombe 972h-

Summary

SPBC32H8.10 (cdk9) on chromosome 2 of Schizosaccharomyces pombe encodes a cyclin-dependent kinase with RNA polymerase II C-terminal domain S2 kinase activity (EC 2.7.11.23, EC 2.7.11.22). The product is a serine/threonine protein kinase that binds ATP and belongs to the CDK family. Cdk9 is associated with positive regulation of transcription elongation by RNA polymerase II, mRNA capping and 3'-end processing, mRNA processing, transcription by RNA polymerase II, and positive regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase I. It is linked to chromatin silencing, regulation of gene expression, dephosphorylation, cellular response to pH, intracellular phosphate homeostasis, and both upregulation and downregulation of filamentous growth in response to pH, as well as negative regulation of flocculation. The protein localises to the nucleus, nucleolus, chromatin, and several complexes including the cyclin/CDK positive transcription elongation factor complex, P-TEFb complex, and Ctk complex. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to lethality and loss of pathogenicity.