Protein involved in RNA polymerase II transcription; also required for histone modifications and splicing; constitutively recruited to the CYC1 promoter and required for recruitment of chromatin remodeling factors for the expression of CYC1 gene; interacts genetically or physically with RNAP II, TBP, TFIIS, and chromatin remodelling factors; central domain is highly conserved throughout eukaryotes; mutations confer an Spt- phenotype