The protein encoded by this gene is part of a complex termed negative elongation factor (NELF) which represses RNA polymerase II transcript elongation. This protein bears similarity to nuclear RNA-binding proteins; however, it has not been demonstrated that this protein binds RNA. The protein contai
ns a tract of alternating basic and acidic residues, largely arginine (R) and aspartic acid (D). The gene localizes to the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class III region on chromosome 6. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]
NELFB is a subunit of negative elongation factor (NELF), which also includes NELFA (WHSC2; MIM 606026), either NELFC or NELFD (TH1L; MIM 605297), and NELFE (RDBP; MIM 154040). NELF acts with DRB sensitivity-inducing factor (DSIF), a heterodimer of SPT4 (SUPT4H1;
MIM 603555) and SPT5 (SUPT5H; MIM 602102), to cause transcriptional pausing of RNA polymerase II (see MIM 180660) (Narita et al., 2003 [PubMed 12612062]).[supplied by OMIM, Mar 2008]