InterPro: IPR003084 Histone deacetylase

Histones can be reversibly acetylated on several lysine residues. Regulation of transcription is caused in part by this mechanism. Histone deacetylases catalyse the removal of the acetyl group. Histone deacetylases, acetoin utilization proteins and acetylpolyamine amidohydrolases are all members of this ancient protein superfamily [1].

HDAs function in multi-subunit complexes, reversing the acetylation of histones by histone acetyltransferases [2, 3], and are also believed to deacetylate general transcription factors such as TFIIF and sequence-specific transcription factors such as p53 [2]. Thus, HDAs contribute to the regulation of transcription, in particular transcriptional repression [3]. At N-terminal tails of histones, removal of the acetyl group from the epsilon-amino group of a lysine side chain will restore its positivecharge, which may stabilise the histone-DNA interaction and prevent activating transcription factors binding to promoter elements [1]. HDAs play important roles in the cell cycle and differentiation, and their deregulation can contribute to the development of cancer [3, 4].

HDAs function in multi-subunit complexes, reversing the acetylation of histones by histone acetyltransferases [2, 3], and are also believed to deacetylate general transcription factors such as TFIIF and sequence- specific transcription factors such as p53 [2]. Thus, HDAs contribute to the regulation of transcription, in particular transcriptional repression. At N-terminal tails of histones, removal of the acetyl group from the epsilon-amino group of a lysine side chain will restore its positive charge, which may stabilise the histone-DNA interaction and prevent activating transcription factors binding to promoter elements [1]. HDAs play important roles in the cell cycle and differentiation, and their deregulation can contribute to the development of cancer [3, 4].