CDK7 Recombinant Rabbit mAb (S-2739-124)

CDK7 (Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 7) is a serine/threonine kinase that serves as a master regulator of the cell cycle and gene transcription, functioning as the catalytic subunit of the TFIIH (Transcription Factor II H) complex and the CAK (CDK-Activating Kinase) complex. As a component of TFIIH, CDK7, in association with its regulatory partner cyclin H and the MAT1 assembly factor, phosphorylates the C-terminal domain (CTD) of RNA polymerase II at serine 5 and serine 7 residues during transcription initiation, thereby facilitating promoter clearance and the transition to productive elongation. Simultaneously, as CAK, CDK7 activates other cell cycle CDKs (CDK1, CDK2, CDK4, and CDK6) through phosphorylation of a conserved threonine residue in their T-loops, thereby driving cell cycle progression from G1 through M phase. Beyond these canonical functions, CDK7 has been implicated in the regulation of transcriptional programs essential for cell growth, proliferation, and survival, particularly in cancer cells where its overexpression or hyperactivation is frequently observed. Consequently, CDK7 has emerged as a promising therapeutic target in oncology, with selective small-molecule inhibitors such as THZ1 and SY-1365 demonstrating potent anti-tumor activity in preclinical models by disrupting both cell cycle control and transcriptional addiction in malignancies including triple-negative breast cancer, small cell lung cancer, and acute myeloid leukemia.