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Updated: Dec 21, 2025

Assays for Validating Histone Acetyltransferase Inhibitors
Published on: August 6, 2020
Histone Deacetylases (HDACs): Evolution, Specificity, Role in Transcriptional Complexes, and Pharmacological
Giorgio Milazzo1, Daniele Mercatelli1, Giulia Di Muzio1
1Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Via Selmi 3, 41026 Bologna, Italy.
Abstract:
Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are evolutionary conserved enzymes which operate by removing acetyl groups from histones and other protein regulatory factors, with functional consequences on chromatin remodeling and gene expression profiles. We provide here a review on the recent knowledge accrued on the zinc-dependent HDAC protein family across different species, tissues, and human pathologies, specifically focusing on the role of HDAC inhibitors as anti-cancer agents. We will investigate the chemical specificity of different HDACs and discuss their role in the human interactome as members of chromatin-binding and regulatory complexes.
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