Final answer:
The CDK8 submodule regulator Mediator plays a role in suppressing transcriptional activity as part of the regulation of gene expression; phosphorylation of certain proteins can also affect transcription by inactivating inhibitors.
Step-by-step explanation:
The CDK8 submodule regulator Mediator is known to suppress transcriptional activity. It is part of the larger Mediator complex that is essential for the regulation of gene expression. Specifically, CDK8 and its associated submodule can negatively affect transcription by interacting with transcription factors and RNA polymerase II. The regulation of gene expression can occur at multiple levels, including after translation (post-translational modifications), during the period between transcription and translation, and via epigenetic activation. Phosphorylation is an example of a post-translational modification that can affect the function of proteins and their ability to regulate transcription. As seen in the phosphorylation of IK-B, which prevents it from binding to NF-KB, thereby allowing NF-KB to enter the nucleus and initiate transcription, phosphorylation can lead to the dissociation of an inhibitor complex and thus activate transcriptional processes.