HEXIM2

This gene encodes a member of the HEXIM family of proteins. This protein is a component of the 7SK small nuclear ribonucleoprotein. This protein has been found to negatively regulate the kinase activity of the cyclin-dependent kinase P-TEFb, which phosphorylates multiple target proteins to promote transcriptional elongation. This gene is located approximately 7 kb downstream from related family member HEXIM1 on chromosome 17. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants.

Full Name

Hexamethylene Bisacetamide Inducible 2

Function

Transcriptional regulator which functions as a general RNA polymerase II transcription inhibitor (PubMed:15713661, PubMed:15713662).

Core component of the 7SK RNP complex: in cooperation with 7SK snRNA sequesters P-TEFb in a large inactive 7SK snRNP complex preventing RNA polymerase II phosphorylation and subsequent transcriptional elongation (PubMed:15713661, PubMed:15713662).

Biological Process

Negative regulation of cyclin-dependent protein serine/threonine kinase activity Source: HGNC-UCL
Negative regulation of transcription, DNA-templated Source: HGNC-UCL
Negative regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase II Source: HGNC-UCL

Cellular Location

Nucleus