The function of MNAT1 (MNAT1 component of CDK activating kinase, ENSG00000020426) is as follows. Component of the CDK-activating kinase (CAK) complex, a master regulator of CDK activity by catalyzing the activating threonine phosphorylation of CDKs (PubMed:41100585). Binds and activates CDK7, the catalytic subunit of CAK (PubMed:41100585). CAK activates major mediators of cell cycle control, including CDK1, CDK2, CDK4 and CDK6, and plays a key role in regulating cell cycle progression (PubMed:41100585). CAK complexed to the core-TFIIH basal transcription factor activates RNA polymerase II by serine phosphorylation of the repetitive C-terminal domain (CTD) of its large subunit (POLR2A), allowing its escape from the promoter and elongation of the transcripts (PubMed:10024882). Involved in cell cycle control and in RNA transcription by RNA polymerase II (PubMed:10024882). .