Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 2, 2026

Studying Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cell Characteristics for Developing New Treatment Strategies
Published on: June 20, 2015
KDM5B is a master regulator of the H3K4-methylome in stem cells, development and cancer
Besa Xhabija1, Benjamin L Kidder1
1Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA; Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA.
Abstract:
Epigenetic regulation of chromatin plays a critical role in controlling stem cell function and tumorigenesis. The histone lysine demethylase, KDM5B, which catalyzes the demethylation of histone 3 lysine 4 (H3K4), is important for embryonic stem (ES) cell differentiation, and is a critical regulator of the H3K4-methylome during early mouse embryonic pre-implantation stage development. KDM5B is also overexpressed, amplified, or mutated in many cancer types. In cancer cells, KDM5B regulates expression of oncogenes and tumor suppressors by modulating H3K4 methylation levels. In this review, we examine how KDM5B regulates gene expression and cellular fates of stem cells and cancer cells by temporally and spatially controlling H3K4 methylation levels.
Related Concept Videos
Master Transcription Regulators
Master Transcription Regulators
Regulation of Hematopoietic Stem Cells
Zygotic Development And Stem Cell Formation
Distinctive Features of Adult Stem Cells vs Cancer Stem Cells
Adult stem cells
Adult stem cells are tissue-specific; hence, they divide to develop the tissue from which they originate. One type of adult stem cell is the epithelial stem cell, which gives rise to the keratinocytes in the multiple layers of epithelial cells in the epidermis of the skin. Adult bone marrow has three distinct types of stem cells:...
Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Maintenance
Cancer stem cells are thought to originate from tissue-specific normal stem cells or progenitor cells. The normal stem cells usually reside in...

