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Updated: Apr 19, 2026

Quantitative Methods to Study Protein Arginine Methyltransferase 1-9 Activity in Cells
Published on: August 7, 2021
Structural definitions of Jumonji family demethylase selectivity
Ewa S Pilka1, Tim James1, Joanna Hergovich Lisztwan1
1Evotec (UK) Ltd, 114 Innovation Drive, Milton Park, Abingdon OX14 4RZ, UK.
Abstract:
The Jumonji (Jmj) family of demethylases has a crucial role in regulating epigenetic processes through the removal of methyl groups from histone tails. The ability of Jmj demethylases to recognise their targets selectively has been elegantly addressed by structural studies. Reviewing recent structural literature, we provide an overview of selectivity mechanisms that demethylases use, including specific residues, methylation states and contextual requirements. We also report the presence of a common JmjN support domain across the family. The ability to use structural information for this enzyme class will be a crucial component of future drug discovery.
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