CDK9

As the catalytic subunit of P-TEFb, CDK9 controls transcriptional elongation: bound to cyclin T1 or T2, it phosphorylates Ser2 of the RNA polymerase II CTD and releases the pausing factors NELF and DSIF. This gatekeeping step is required for expression of short-lived transcripts such as MYC and MCL1, which is why CDK9 inhibitors rapidly shut down survival programs in leukemia and are in clinical trials. HIV-1 Tat hijacks P-TEFb to drive viral transcription. CDK9 also has roles in myeloid differentiation and cardiomyocyte biology. Among transcriptional CDKs it is distinguished from CDK8/19 by its elongation-specific function.