Members of this family function as part of the Mediator (Med) complex, which links DNA-bound transcriptional regulators and the general transcription machinery, particularly the RNA polymerase II enzyme. They play a role in basal transcription by mediating activation or repression according to the specific complement of transcriptional regulators bound to the promoter [1][2].

1: Ligand-dependent transcription activation by nuclear receptors requires the DRIP complex. Rachez C, Lemon BD, Suldan Z, Bromleigh V, Gamble M, Naar AM, Erdjument-Bromage H, Tempst P, Freedman LP; Nature. 1999;398:824-828. PMID:10235266

2: Composite co-activator ARC mediates chromatin-directed transcriptional activation. Naar AM, Beaurang PA, Zhou S, Abraham S, Solomon W, Tjian R; Nature. 1999;398:828-832. PMID:10235267

3: A unified nomenclature for protein subunits of mediator complexes linking transcriptional regulators to RNA polymerase II. Bourbon HM, Aguilera A, Ansari AZ, Asturias FJ, Berk AJ, Bjorklund S, Blackwell TK, Borggrefe T, Carey M, Carlson M, Conaway JW, Conaway RC, Emmons SW, Fondell JD, Freedman LP, Fukasawa T, Gustafsson CM, Han M, He X, Herman PK, Hinnebusch AG, Holmberg S, Mol Cell. 2004;14:553-557. PMID:15175151