Current Perspectives on Histone Demethylases  

作　　者：Xiaoqing TIAN Jingyuan FANG 

机构地区：[1]Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Institute of Digestive Disease, Shanghai 200001, China

出　　处：《Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica》2007年第2期81-88,共8页生物化学与生物物理学报（英文版）

基　　金：This work was supported by the grants from the National Basic Research Program of China(No.2005CB522400);Shanghai Leading Academic Discipline Project(No.Y0205);shanghai Municipal Commission for Science and Technology(No.04DZ14006)

摘　　要：The posttranslational modification of histones plays an important role in chromatin regulation. Histone methylation influences constitutive heterochromatin, genomic imprinting, X-chromosome inactivation and gene transcription. Histone demethylase catalyzes the removal of methyl groups on lysine or arginine residues of histones. Two kinds of histone lysine demethylases have been identified, including lysine specific demethylase I and Jumonji C （JmjC） domain family proteins. These histone demethylases are involved in the regulation of gene expression. Histone modification is a dynamic process, and the imbalance of histone methylation has been linked to cancers. Therefore, histone demethylases may represent a new target for anti-cancer therapy.The posttranslational modification of histones plays an important role in chromatin regulation. Histone methylation influences constitutive heterochromatin, genomic imprinting, X-chromosome inactivation and gene transcription. Histone demethylase catalyzes the removal of methyl groups on lysine or arginine residues of histones. Two kinds of histone lysine demethylases have been identified, including lysine specific demethylase I and Jumonji C （JmjC） domain family proteins. These histone demethylases are involved in the regulation of gene expression. Histone modification is a dynamic process, and the imbalance of histone methylation has been linked to cancers. Therefore, histone demethylases may represent a new target for anti-cancer therapy.

关 键 词：epigenetic modification histone methylation DEMETHYLASE lysine specific demethylase 1 JumonjiC （JmjC） protein 

分 类 号：Q756[生物学—分子生物学]