Uncovering the role of Cdk8 in RNA synthesis

生物体经常受到其栖息环境变化的挑战。要在这些侮辱中幸存下来，他们需要做出适当的反应。基因激活和抑制是生物体对其环境做出反应的关键机制。这是通过一个叫做转录的过程中的变化来实现的。转录是由一种叫做RNA聚合酶II（RNAPII）的分子机器完成的，它可以读取细胞DNA中编码的信息。转录过程是复杂的，它需要数百个调节器的集体行动，这些调节器的功能是响应环境信号将RNAPII导向或远离DNA的特定区域。cdk 8是一种已知的转录因子调节因子，因此，它在介导生物体响应环境变化的能力方面起着重要作用。尽管Cdk8很重要，但我们对它的功能和自身的调节知之甚少，特别是在对环境信号的反应中。一些证据表明，Cdk 8可能调控的转录方面比我们目前所知道的更多。事实上，我们最近发现Cdk 8调节因子参与响应营养信号的代谢基因的激活。该项目的目标是了解Cdk8的功能以及它调节哪些转录程序。

Organisms are regularly challenged by changes to the environments they inhabit. Surviving these insults requires them to mount an appropriate response. Gene activation and repression is a key mechanism by which organisms respond to their environments. This is achieved through changes in a process called transcription. Transcription is performed by a molecular machine called RNA Polymerase II (RNAPII) which reads information encode in the cell's DNA. The process of transcription is complex, it requires the collective action of hundreds of regulators that function to direct RNAPII towards or away from specific regions of the DNA in response to environmental signals. Cdk8 is a known regulator of transcription factors and as such, it plays important roles in mediating the ability of organisms to respond to changes in their environment. Despite its importance, we know very little about how Cdk8 functions and is itself regulated, particularly in response to environmental signals. Several lines of evidence suggest that Cdk8 likely regulates many more aspects of transcription than we currently are aware of. In fact, we recently discovered that Cdk8 regulates factor involved in the activation of metabolism genes in response to nutrient signals. The goal of this project is to understand how Cdk8 functions and which transcriptional programs it regulates.