Histone Deacetylase 8: A Potential Drug Target and Biomarker (G55869)

Target Name: HDAC8

NCBI ID: G55869

Histone Deacetylase 8: A Potential Drug Target and Biomarker

Histone deacetylase 8 (HDAC8), also known as HDAAC8, is a protein that plays a crucial role in the regulation of gene expression and DNA replication. It is a member of the HDAC family, which consists of 21 known proteins that share a conserved catalytic core and a variable region for interaction with DNA. HDAC8 is expressed in nearly all human tissues and is involved in the histone code, which is the genetic instructions for the production of chromosomes.

HDAC8 functions as a histon-remodeling enzyme, which means that it helps to maintain the proper structure of the histone proteins that make up the nucleosome, the basic unit of the chromosome. Histons are small, positively charged proteins that interact with DNA to keep the chromosome in proper order. In addition to its role in maintaining the nucleosome structure, HDAC8 is also involved in the regulation of DNA replication, transcription, and repair.

HDAC8 has been implicated in the development and progression of many diseases, including cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and autoimmune disorders. Its role in these processes is often related to the regulation of cellular processes that are critical for disease progression, such as the regulation of cell division, the expression of gene programs, and the response to environmental stimuli.

Due to its involvement in so many cellular processes, HDAC8 has become a focus of interest for researchers looking for new drug targets or biomarkers. One of the main advantages of HDAC8 as a drug target is its ubiquity and stability. HDAC8 is highly conserved and has been identified in a wide range of organisms, making it a promising candidate for small molecules that can inhibit its activity. Additionally, HDAC8 is known to play a role in many cellular processes that are important for disease progression, which makes it an attractive target for drugs that are aimed at treating diseases that are characterized by cellular dysfunction and abnormalities.

Another advantage of HDAC8 is its potential to act as a biomarker. The expression of HDAC8 is often increased in diseases, such as cancer, and it has been used as a biomarker in many studies. For example, researchers have used qRT-PCR to measure the expression of HDAC8 in cancer tissues and have found that the expression of HDAC8 is often increased compared to the expression of other genes. This suggests that HDAC8 may be a useful biomarker for identifying cancer cells and evaluating the effectiveness of different treatments.

In addition to its potential as a drug target and biomarker, HDAC8 is also of interest as a potential therapeutic agent. Studies have shown that HDAC8 inhibitors have the potential to inhibit the activity of HDAC8 and cause a variety of cellular and molecular changes. For example , one study published in the journal Nature Communications found that HDAC8 inhibitors reduced the migration and invasion of cancer cells. Another study published in the journal Molecular Therapy found that HDAC8 inhibitors caused a variety of cellular changes, including the inhibition of cell division and the accumulation of cellular waste products.

Overall, HDAC8 is a protein that has the potential to be a drug target or biomarker for a wide range of diseases. Its role in the regulation of gene expression and DNA replication makes it an attractive candidate for small molecules that can inhibit its activity. Additionally , its potential as a therapeutic agent makes it a promising target for the treatment of diseases that are characterized by cellular dysfunction and abnormalities. Further research is needed to fully understand the role of HDAC8 in disease and to develop effective treatments.

Protein Name: Histone Deacetylase 8

Functions: Histone deacetylase that catalyzes the deacetylation of lysine residues on the N-terminal part of the core histones (H2A, H2B, H3 and H4) (PubMed:10748112, PubMed:10922473, PubMed:10926844, PubMed:14701748, PubMed:28497810). Histone deacetylation gives a tag for epigenetic repression and plays an important role in transcriptional regulation, cell cycle progression and developmental events (PubMed:10748112, PubMed:10922473, PubMed:10926844, PubMed:14701748). Histone deacetylases act via the formation of large multiprotein complexes (PubMed:10748112, PubMed:10922473, PubMed:10926844, PubMed:14701748). Also involved in the deacetylation of cohesin complex protein SMC3 regulating release of cohesin complexes from chromatin (PubMed:22885700). May play a role in smooth muscle cell contractility (PubMed:15772115). In addition to protein deacetylase activity, also has protein-lysine deacylase activity: acts as a protein decrotonylase by mediating decrotonylation ((2E)-butenoyl) of histones (PubMed:28497810)

More Common Targets