HDAC2

HDAC2 (Histone Deacetylase 2) is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the HDAC2 gene. This enzyme is a member of the histone deacetylase family, which plays a critical role in regulating epigenetic modifications. The activity of HDAC2 has significant implications for gene expression, cell cycle regulation, and developmental processes.

Function

HDAC2 is involved in the removal of acetyl groups from lysine residues on the N-terminal part of the core histones (histone H2A, histone H2B, histone H3, and histone H4). This action is essential for the condensation of chromatin structure and the repression of gene transcription. HDAC2 forms transcriptional repressor complexes by associating with many different proteins, including mSin3 and N-CoR. It is involved in the regulation of cell cycle progression at the G1/S transition and has been shown to play a role in heart development and the maintenance of neuronal plasticity and memory formation.

Clinical Significance

Aberrant activity or expression of HDAC2 has been linked to several human diseases, particularly in the development of cancer, where it can act as a transcriptional repressor of genes that inhibit proliferation and migration of cancer cells. HDAC2 is also implicated in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, where it contributes to the pathological loss of neurons by repressing genes involved in neuronal survival.

In addition, inhibitors of HDAC2 are being studied for their therapeutic potential in treating these diseases by reactivating the expression of suppressed genes critical for cell regulation and survival.

Genetic Structure

The HDAC2 gene is located on chromosome 6, and it consists of several exons and introns that span a significant portion of the genome. The gene encodes a protein of 488 amino acids, which has a molecular weight of approximately 55 kDa.

See Also

• Histone deacetylase
• Epigenetics
• Gene expression
• Chromatin
• Neurodegenerative diseases