Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Protein Complexes with Interchangeable Parts

Protein Complexes with Interchangeable Parts

Groups of proteins may form a complex where each protein in this complex has a different role in the overall execution of the complex’s function. Often some of the proteins in the complex can be replaced by a closely related variant to give a complex that contains many of the same components yet is functionally distinct.
The SCF ubiquitin ligase is a protein complex of five individual proteins. This complex attaches ubiquitin to other target proteins to mark them for degradation. In order to...

Protein Complexes with Interchangeable Parts

Protein Complexes with Interchangeable Parts

Groups of proteins may form a complex where each protein in this complex has a different role in the overall execution of the complex’s function. Often some of the proteins in the complex can be replaced by a closely related variant to give a complex that contains many of the same components yet is functionally distinct.
The SCF ubiquitin ligase is a protein complex of five individual proteins. This complex attaches ubiquitin to other target proteins to mark them for degradation. In order to...

Protein Complex Assembly

Protein Complex Assembly

Proteins can form homomeric complexes with another unit of the same protein or heteromeric complexes with different types. Most protein complexes self-assemble spontaneously via ordered pathways, while some proteins need assembly factors that guide their proper assembly. Despite the crowded intracellular environment, proteins usually interact with their correct partners and form functional complexes.
Many viruses self-assemble into a fully functional unit using the infected host cell to...

Protein Complex Assembly

Protein Complex Assembly

Proteins can form homomeric complexes with another unit of the same protein or heteromeric complexes with different types. Most protein complexes self-assemble spontaneously via ordered pathways, while some proteins need assembly factors that guide their proper assembly. Despite the crowded intracellular environment, proteins usually interact with their correct partners and form functional complexes.
Many viruses self-assemble into a fully functional unit using the infected host cell to...

Cooperative Allosteric Transitions

Cooperative Allosteric Transitions

Cooperative allosteric transitions can occur in multimeric proteins, where each subunit of the protein has its own ligand-binding site. When a ligand binds to any of these subunits, it triggers a conformational change that affects the binding sites in the other subunits; this can change the affinity of the other sites for their respective ligands. The ability of the protein to change the shape of its binding site is attributed to the presence of a mix of flexible and stable segments in the...

Assembly of Signaling Complexes

Assembly of Signaling Complexes

Multiprotein signaling complexes are formed in a dynamic process involving protein-protein interactions at the cytoplasmic domain of transmembrane receptors or enzymatic and non-enzymatic proteins associated with the receptor. These complexes ensure the activation and propagation of intracellular signals that regulate cell functions.
Interaction domains in cell signaling
Interaction domains recognize exposed features of their binding partners containing post-translationally modified sequences,...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Structural basis of human Mediator recruitment by the phosphorylated transcription factor Elk-1.

Nature communications·2025

Same author

[Prediction of complex biomolecular structures by AlphaFold 3].

Medecine sciences : M/S·2024

Same author

Assessment of machine-learning predictions for the Mediator complex subunit MED25 ACID domain interactions with transactivation domains.

FEBS letters·2024

Same author

Cross-talk between YAP and RAR-RXR Drives Expression of Stemness Genes to Promote 5-FU Resistance and Self-Renewal in Colorectal Cancer Cells.

Molecular cancer research : MCR·2021

Same author

Twenty years of Mediator complex structural studies.

Biochemical Society transactions·2019

Same author

Crystal structure of human Mediator subunit MED23.

Nature communications·2018

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Pulldown Assay Coupled with Co-Expression in Bacteria Cells as a Time-Efficient Tool for Testing Challenging Protein-Protein Interactions

Pulldown Assay Coupled with Co-Expression in Bacteria Cells as a Time-Efficient Tool for Testing Challenging Protein-Protein Interactions

Published on: December 23, 2022

Non-canonical subunit functions in multiprotein complexes: insights from the Mediator complex.

Alexis Verger¹, Didier Monté¹, Vincent Villeret¹

¹CNRS UMR 9031 Biologie Structurale Intégrative, Univ. Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, F-59000 Lille, France.

Biochemical Society Transactions

|June 22, 2026

Summary

The Mediator complex, a key transcription regulator, may have subunits with specialized roles beyond its canonical function. This review explores independent subunit activities and specialization mechanisms in multiprotein assemblies.

Keywords:

Mediator complex independent subunit function multiprotein complex

More Related Videos

High-Resolution Complexome Profiling by Cryoslicing BN-MS Analysis

High-Resolution Complexome Profiling by Cryoslicing BN-MS Analysis

Published on: October 15, 2019

Combining Chemical Cross-linking and Mass Spectrometry of Intact Protein Complexes to Study the Architecture of Multi-subunit Protein Assemblies

Combining Chemical Cross-linking and Mass Spectrometry of Intact Protein Complexes to Study the Architecture of Multi-subunit Protein Assemblies

Published on: November 28, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Pulldown Assay Coupled with Co-Expression in Bacteria Cells as a Time-Efficient Tool for Testing Challenging Protein-Protein Interactions

Pulldown Assay Coupled with Co-Expression in Bacteria Cells as a Time-Efficient Tool for Testing Challenging Protein-Protein Interactions

Published on: December 23, 2022

High-Resolution Complexome Profiling by Cryoslicing BN-MS Analysis

High-Resolution Complexome Profiling by Cryoslicing BN-MS Analysis

Published on: October 15, 2019

Combining Chemical Cross-linking and Mass Spectrometry of Intact Protein Complexes to Study the Architecture of Multi-subunit Protein Assemblies

Combining Chemical Cross-linking and Mass Spectrometry of Intact Protein Complexes to Study the Architecture of Multi-subunit Protein Assemblies

Published on: November 28, 2017

Area of Science:

Molecular biology
Gene regulation
Protein complex dynamics

Background:

The Mediator complex is a crucial coactivator for RNA polymerase II transcription.
It integrates transcription factor signals and facilitates pre-initiation complex assembly.
Emerging evidence suggests Mediator involvement in RNA processing, DNA repair, and translation.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate whether non-canonical Mediator functions arise from the complex as a whole or from individual subunits.
To explore the independent functional capabilities of Mediator subunits.
To discuss the mechanisms underlying subunit specialization within large protein assemblies.

Main Methods:

Literature review of studies on Mediator complex and its subunits.
Analysis of experimental evidence for independent subunit functions.
Examination of mechanistic principles governing specialization in multiprotein complexes.

Main Results:

Mediator subunits possess the capacity to function outside their canonical roles.
Subunit specialization allows for diverse cellular functions beyond transcription regulation.
Specific mechanistic principles enable functional divergence within the Mediator complex.

Conclusions:

Mediator subunits can exhibit specialized functions independently of the entire complex.
This specialization expands the functional repertoire of the Mediator complex.
Understanding subunit specialization is key to comprehending Mediator's diverse cellular roles.