MEPCE
Description
The MEPCE (methylphosphate capping enzyme) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 7.
MEPCE is an S-adenosyl-L-methionine-dependent methyltransferase that adds a methylphosphate cap at the 5'-end of 7SK snRNA, stabilizing it. It also functions non-enzymatically as part of the 7SK RNP complex. This complex sequesters P-TEFb, preventing RNA polymerase II phosphorylation and subsequent transcriptional elongation. The 7SK RNP complex promotes snRNA gene transcription by interacting with the little elongation complex (LEC). MEPCE is required for stabilizing 7SK RNA and facilitating the assembly of the 7SK RNP complex. Its interaction with LARP7 within the 7SK RNP complex occludes its catalytic center, contributing to its non-enzymatic function.
MEPCE is also known as BCDIN3.
