Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 17, 2026

X-Ray Crystallography to Study the Oligomeric State Transition of the Thermotoga maritima M42 Aminopeptidase TmPep1050
Published on: May 13, 2020
Crystal structure of the PHF8 Jumonji domain, an Nepsilon-methyl lysine demethylase
Wyatt W Yue1, Viktorija Hozjan, Wei Ge
1Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Oxford, Headington, United Kingdom.
Abstract:
Crystallographic analysis of the catalytic domain of PHD finger protein 8 (PHF8), an N(epsilon)-methyl lysine histone demethylase associated with mental retardation and cleft lip/palate, reveals a double-stranded beta-helix fold with conserved Fe(II) and cosubstrate binding sites typical of the 2-oxoglutarate dependent oxygenases. The PHF8 active site is highly conserved with those of the FBXL10/11demethylases, which are also selective for the di-/mono-methylated lysine states, but differs from that of the JMJD2 demethylases which are selective for tri-/di-methylated states. The results rationalize the lack of activity for the clinically observed F279S PHF8 variant and they will help to identify inhibitors selective for specific N(epsilon)-methyl lysine demethylase subfamilies.
Related Concept Videos
X-ray Crystallography
Diffraction
Diffraction is the change in the direction of travel experienced by an electromagnetic wave when it encounters a physical barrier whose dimensions are comparable to those of the wavelength of the light. X-rays are electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths about as long as the distance between neighboring...
Crystal Field Theory - Octahedral Complexes
To explain the observed behavior of transition metal complexes (such as colors), a model involving electrostatic interactions between the electrons from the ligands and the electrons in the unhybridized d orbitals of the central metal atom has been developed. This electrostatic model is crystal field theory (CFT). It helps to understand, interpret, and predict the colors, magnetic behavior, and some structures of coordination compounds of transition metals.
CFT focuses on...
Conserved Binding Sites
Binding sites are often located in large pockets, and if their location on a protein’s surface is unknown, it can be predicted using various approaches. The energetic method computationally analyses the...
ATP Synthase: Structure
Determination of Crystal Structures
Phosphodiester Linkages
Phosphodiester bond forms when a phosphoric acid molecule (H3PO4) links with two hydroxyl groups (–OH) of two other molecules, forming two ester bonds. Two water molecules are released in this process. The phosphodiester bond is commonly found in nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) and plays a critical role in their structure and function.
Phosphodiester Bonds Link Nucleotides Together
DNA and RNA are polynucleotides or long chains of nucleotides that are linked together. A nucleotide is...

