Cyclin-dependent kinase 8 (CDK8) is a component of the Mediator comple, Xenopus/Amphibian,, a coactivator involved in regulated gene transcription of nearly all RNA polymerase II-dependent genes. Mediator functions as a bridge to convey information from gene-specific regulatory proteins to the basal RNA polymerase II transcription machinery. Mediator is recruited to promoters by direct interactions with regulatory proteins and serves as a scaffold for the assembly of a functional preinitiation comple, Xenopus/Amphibian, with RNA polymerase II and the general transcription factors. CDK8 phosphorylates the CTD (C-terminal domain) of the large subunit of RNA polymerase II (RNAp II), which may inhibit the formation of a transcription initiation comple, Xenopus/Amphibian,.