TAF13 (TATA-box binding protein associated factor 13) is a critical component of the TFIID basal transcription factor complex that initiates RNA polymerase II-dependent transcription 1. TAF13 forms a histone fold heterodimer with TAF11 that is essential for recruitment into the TFIID complex, and together with TBP, plays key roles during promoter binding by TFIID and TFIIA transcription factor complexes 1. The TAF11/TAF13 heterodimer competes with TATA-box DNA for TBP binding, suggesting a regulatory mechanism for TFIID function 1. TAF13 contains a highly conserved C-terminal TBP-interaction domain essential for supporting cell growth 1. Pathogenic variants in TAF13 cause intellectual developmental disorder, autosomal recessive 60 (MRT60), characterized by microcephaly, intellectual disability, growth retardation, and seizures 23. These variants disrupt TAF13-TAF11 heterodimer formation, impairing TFIID assembly 2. TAF13 knockdown significantly deregulates gene expression patterns, particularly affecting genes related to neuronal and skeletal functions and those containing E-box motifs in their promoters 2. Recent findings suggest TAF13 may also be involved in gonadal development, as patients with TAF13 variants can present with 46,XY disorders of sex development 3.