Research progress in structure and function of polymerase-associated factor 1 complex

Abstract

Polymerase-associated factor 1 (Paf1) complex is a highly conserved multi-subunit complex in eukaryotes. Yeast Paf1 complex is composed of five subunits (Ctr9, Paf1, Leo1, Cdc73, and Rtf1), but the human Paf1 complex contains an additional subunit Ski8. The Paf1 complex was found to be involved in numerous cellular activities, such as regulating all stages of the RNA polymerase II transcription cycle, processing and nuclear export of nascent transcripts, maintenance of chromatin structure or embryonic stem cell pluripotency, DNA damage and repair, and the occurrence and development of tumors. Here, we review the important research progress of Paf1 complex in recent years from the aspects of structure and function, propose some scientific questions related to Paf1 complex that urgently need to be solved, and prospect for future research directions.