title: The role of the histone demethylase KDM4A in cancer.
abstract: Histone posttranslational modifications are important components of epigenetic regulation. One extensively studied modification is the methylation of lysine residues. These modifications were thought to be irreversible. However, several proteins with histone lysine demethylase functions have been discovered and characterized. Among these proteins, KDM4A is the first histone lysine demethylase shown to demethylate trimethylated residues. This enzyme plays an important role in gene expression, cellular differentiation, and animal development. Recently, it has also been shown to be involved in cancer. In this review, we focus on describing the structure, mechanisms, and function of KDM4A. We primarily discuss the role of KDM4A in cancer development and the importance of KDM4A as a potential therapeutic target.
authors: Unidad de Investigación Biomédica en Cáncer, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología-Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico.
authors: Lissania
authors: L
authors: Guerra-Calderas
authors: Unidad de Investigación Biomédica en Cáncer, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología-Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico.
authors: Rodrigo
authors: R
authors: González-Barrios
authors: Unidad de Investigación Biomédica en Cáncer, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología-Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico.
authors: Luis A
authors: LA
authors: Herrera
authors: Unidad de Investigación Biomédica en Cáncer, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología-Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Cantú de León
authors: Unidad de Investigación Biomédica en Cáncer, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología-Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico. Electronic address: ctcf@ciencias.unam.mx.
authors: Ernesto
authors: E
authors: Soto-Reyes
mesh_terms: D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics*; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D006657:Histones / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D056484:Jumonji Domain-Containing Histone Demethylases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D006657:Histones; D056484:Jumonji Domain-Containing Histone Demethylases; C494424:KDM4A protein, human
keywords: Jmjd2A; KDM4A; cancer; histone demethylase; therapeutic target