Acetylation & Deacetylation

Histone acetylation, including histone H3 and histone H4, is involved in the regulation of chromatin structure and the recruitment of transcription factors to gene promoters. Quantifying total levels of acetylated histone or levels at specific lysines will help to elucidate epigenetic regulation of gene activation, and contribute to the development of HAT or HDAC-targeted drugs.

Histone acetyltransferases (HAT) are enzymes that play a critical role in transcriptional regulation of genes, and directly correspond to transcription by selectively acetylating the epsilon-amino groups of lysines located near the amino termini of core histone proteins. Abnormal gene silencing by reduced HAT activity has been linked to the pathogenesis of many diseases, particularly cancer. Determ...

Histone deacetylases (HDACs), also known as lysine deacetylases (KDACs), are a class of enzymes that remove acetyl groups from core histones (H2A, H2B, H3 and H4), thereby regulating gene expression. These epigenetic enzymes influence the structure of chromatin, the protein-DNA complex that forms into chromosomes residing in the nucleus. By removing an acetyl group, HDACs enable the tightening of the chromatin structure i...