Negative elongation factor A (NELFA)

Essential component of the NELF complex, a complex that negatively regulates the elongation of transcription by RNA polymerase II. The NELF complex, which functions through an association with the DSIF complex and causes transcriptional pausing, is counteracted by the P-TEFb kinase complex.

The NELF complex is included in HIV-1 latency possibly involving recruitment of PCF11 to paused RNA polymerase II. In vitro, the NELFA:NELFCD subcomplex binds to ssDNA and ssRNA in a sequence- and structure-dependent manner.