Carboxy-terminal domain (CTD)

The Carboxy-terminal domain (CTD) is a specific part of an enzyme called RNA polymerase II, which is responsible for copying DNA into RNA. The CTD is a string of amino acids at the enzyme's tail, acting like a regulatory platform. It helps coordinate the process of gene transcription by interacting with various proteins, ensuring that the production of RNA is properly regulated and completed efficiently. In essence, the CTD is essential for properly managing how genes are turned into functional RNA molecules inside the cell.