The jumonji domain demethylases catalyze demethylation of histones, thus affecting modifications that are associated with transcription status. Structural and functional analyses of two PHF8 jumonji orthologs now indicates that the PHD domain, conserved in this family, binds H3K4me3, a modification associated with transcriptional activation, thus directing and augmenting the target of jumonji-mediated demethylation.
- John R Horton
- Anup K Upadhyay
- Xiaodong Cheng