Unsafe SETs: histone lysine methyltransferases and cancer

Trends Biochem Sci. 2002 Aug;27(8):396-402. doi: 10.1016/s0968-0004(02)02141-2.

Abstract

Enzymes that covalently modify histones control many cellular processes by affecting gene expression. A new class of these enzymes is the histone lysine methyltransferase family, whose catalytic activity lies within a conserved domain, the SET domain. This article surveys the evidence for a connection between SET-domain-containing proteins and cancer. It proposes that deregulation of SET-domain function has an important role in carcinogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Histone Methyltransferases
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase / genetics
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins*
  • Methyltransferases / genetics
  • Methyltransferases / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Neoplasms / physiopathology*
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Retinoblastoma Protein / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Retinoblastoma Protein
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • Histone Methyltransferases
  • Methyltransferases
  • SU(VAR)3-9
  • Set2 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase
  • NSD1 protein, human
  • Nsd1 protein, mouse
  • PRDM2 protein, human
  • SET1 protein, S cerevisiae