Role of noncoding RNAs in the regulation of P-TEFb availability and enzymatic activity

P-TEFb is a transcriptional factor that speci)cally regulates the elongation step of RNA polymerase II-dependent transcription and its activity strictly required for Human Immunode)ciency Virus (HIV) infection and during cardiac di*erentiation. P-TEFb role has emerged as a crucial regulator of transcription elongation and its activity found )nely tuned in vivo at transcriptional level as well as posttranscriptionally by dynamic association with di*erent multisubunit molecular particles. Both physiological and pathological cellular signals rapidly converge on P-TEFb regulation by modifying expression and activity of the complex to allow cells to properly respond to di*erent stimuli. In this review we will give a panoramic view on P-TEFb regulation by noncoding RNAs in both physiological and pathological conditions.