Transcription Elongation Factor A (SII)-Like (TCEAL) Family Members: Re-Evaluation of Predicted Structure and Summary...

The TCEAL (Transcription Elongation Factor A (SII)-Like) gene family comprises a group of genes located on the X chromosome that contribute to numerous biological processes, including transcription regulation and cellular differentiation in both normal physiology and in multiple disease states. There is one review of the TCEAL gene family that was published 20 years ago [Winter EE, Ponting CP. Mammalian BEX, WEX and GASP genes: Coding and non-coding chimaerism sustained by gene conversion events. BMC Evol Biol. 2005;5:54.], and none about the proteins encoded by the TCEAL gene family. This review will summarize current knowledge and understanding of the expression and function of TCEAL gene family members. The review will also introduce the idea that there is no evidence that any of the TCEAL family proteins are involved in transcription elongation and that the structural domains defining the family, namely the RNA polymerase II binding domains and a zinc finger-like structure, likely do not exist in some, if not most, family members.