CDK-activating kinase is a complex of CDK7 and cyclin H. The complex is involved in cell cycle regulation by phosphorylating an activating residue in the T-loop domain of cdks. Regulation of CAK activity is mediated by T-loop phosphorylation and by association with MAT1, both of which enhance its kinase activity toward the CTD of RNA polymerase II and other substrates such as p53. CAK is an essential component of the transcription complex TFIIH and may interact directly with TFIIH helicases.
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