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KDMs in Epigenetics and Disease

Lysine Demethylase Enzymes (KDMs) are enzymes that remove methyl groups from lysine residues on histone and other proteins. Lysine methylation is a key epigenetic mark that, depending on its site and degree, can either activate or repress gene expression. KDMs are divided into two major classes:

  • FAD-dependent KDMs (LSD family): For example, KDM1A (LSD1) uses FAD as a cofactor and typically removes mono- or dimethyl marks.
  • JmjC domain-containing KDMs (KDM2–KDM7 families): These require Fe²⁺ and 2-oxoglutarate as cofactors and can remove mono-, di-, and trimethyl marks.
 
Protein / Family Epigenetic Function Disease Association Key Publications Key Products
Androgen Receptor Transcription factor. Recruits KDM1A/KDM4 to remodel chromatin. Prostate cancers Nataraj et al., Cell. Mol. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. 2025.
Estrogen Receptor Transcription Factors and histone acetyltransferases (p300/CBP), histone deacetylases (HDACs), and lysine demethylases ( KDM1A/LSD1, KDM4 family) to modulate chromatin structure. Breast cancer, endometrial cancer, osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. Liu et al., Cell Death Disc 2025.
Interactors (e.g., HDAC1/2, CTBP1, RBBP4/7) Coregulators or scaffolds with KDMs (not demethylases). Modulate chromatin accessibility and transcription complexes. Broadly implicated in cancer and aging. Cursaeo et al., ChemMed. 2024.

Antibodies

Proteins

Kits
KDM1A (LSD1) Flavin-dependent lysine demethylase, Demethylates H3K4me1/2 and H3K9me1/2, and modulates transcriptional repression/activation. Multiple cancers ( prostate, breast), neurodevelopmental disorders. Martin-Gonzalez et al., Cell Rep. 2025
KDM1B (LSD2) LSD family, similar catalytic mechanism to KDM1A. Demethylates H3K4me1/2 and H3K9me1/2. Overexpression/mutation in cancers (bladder, ovarian, melanoma). Gacek-Matthews et al., PLoS Genet. 2016
KDM2A (FBXL11) JmjC domain demethylase. Part of FBXL family. H3K36me1/2 demethylase. Affects transcription elongation and chromatin structure Gastric cancer, breast cancer, and others. Sultana et al., Science Direct. 2026.
KDM2B (FBXL10) JmjC, demethylates H3K36me2 and H3K4me3. Regulates ribosomal gene repression and cell growth control. AML (leukemia), and solid tumors. Yan et al., AMJ Transl Res. 2018.
KDM6A (UTX) Part of chromatin remodeling. Removes repressive H3K27 methyl marks, enabling gene activation. Kabuki syndrome, and cancer. Tran et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 2020
KDM7A / PHF8 & KDM7B / PHF8 & KDM7C / PHF2 KDM7 subfamily. Multifunctional demethylases. Disrupted chromatin recognition and demethylation affects target gene regulation during development. Mental retardation syndromes; cancer. Fan et al., Epigenomes. 2024
Liu et al., CIMB. 2025
MYC Interacts with multiple KDMs to regulate proliferation Most frequently dysregulated oncogenes in human cancers, including breast, lung, colorectal, lymphoma, and many others. Santarelli et al., Molecules. 2025
p53 Functional interactions with KDM1A, KDM5, and KDM6 family members Various cancers (lung, breast, colorectal, ovarian, liver. Paluszczak et al., Cancers. 2025
RCOR1 / CoREST Scaffold protein; essential for KDM1A/LSD1 activity. Partners with KDM1A to demethylate histone marks and repress transcription. Involved in cancers and neurological disorders. Kalin et al., Nat. Commun. 2018.
SIN3A Transcriptional corepressor scaffold. Switch independent transcription regulator family member. Cancers, neurodevelopmental disorders, and metabolic disorders. Monziani et al.., Nucleic Acids Res. 2025.

 

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