NELFB

NELFB is a subunit of negative elongation factor (NELF), which also includes NELFA (WHSC2; MIM 606026), either NELFC or NELFD (TH1L; MIM 605297), and NELFE (RDBP; MIM 154040). NELF acts with DRB sensitivity-inducing factor (DSIF), a heterodimer of SPT4 (SUPT4H1; MIM 603555) and SPT5 (SUPT5H; MIM 602102), to cause transcriptional pausing of RNA polymerase II (see MIM 180660) (Narita et al., 2003 [PubMed 12612062]).[supplied by OMIM, Mar 2008]

Full Name

Negative Elongation Factor Complex Member B

Function

Essential component of the NELF complex, a complex that negatively regulates the elongation of transcription by RNA polymerase II (PubMed:12612062).

The NELF complex, which acts via an association with the DSIF complex and causes transcriptional pausing, is counteracted by the P-TEFb kinase complex (PubMed:10199401).

May be able to induce chromatin unfolding (PubMed:11739404).

Essential for early embryogenesis; plays an important role in maintaining the undifferentiated state of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) by preventing unscheduled expression of developmental genes (By similarity).

Plays a key role in establishing the responsiveness of stem cells to developmental cues; facilitates plasticity and cell fate commitment in ESCs by establishing the appropriate expression level of signaling molecules (By similarity).

Supports the transcription of genes involved in energy metabolism in cardiomyocytes; facilitates the association of transcription initiation factors with the promoters of the metabolism-related genes (By similarity).

(Microbial infection) The NELF complex is involved in HIV-1 latency possibly involving recruitment of PCF11 to paused RNA polymerase II (PubMed:23884411).

In vitro, binds weakly to the HIV-1 TAR RNA which is located in the long terminal repeat (LTR) of HIV-1 (PubMed:23884411).

Biological Process

Cell population proliferation Source: UniProtKB
Negative regulation of stem cell differentiation Source: UniProtKB
Negative regulation of transcription elongation from RNA polymerase II promoter Source: UniProtKB
Stem cell differentiation Source: UniProtKB

Cellular Location

Nucleus