RNA pol II CTD phospho Ser5 antibody (pAb), sample

RNA pol II (RNA polymerase II) is responsible for synthesizing messenger RNA in eukaryotes. RNA pol II contains a carboxy terminal domain composed of heptapeptide repeats that are essential for polymerase activity. These repeats contain serine and threonine residues that are phosphorylated in actively transcribing RNA polymerase. In addition, RNA pol II, in combination with several other polymerase subunits, form the DNA binding domain of the polymerase, a groove in which the DNA template is transcribed into RNA.

During the transcription cycle, the CTD of the large subunit of RNA pol II is reversibly phosphorylated. RNA pol II containing unphosphorylated CTD is recruited to the promoter, whereas the hyperphosphorylated CTD form is involved in active transcription. Phosphorylation occurs at two sites within the heptapeptide repeat, at Serine 5 and Serine 2. RNA pol II Serine 5 phosphorylation is confined to promoter regions and is necessary for the initiation of transcription.