Jumonji C Domain Containing Histone Demethylase 1 Homolog D (JHDM1D)

Dimethylations of histone H3 lysine 9 and lysine 27 are important epigenetic marks associated with transcription repression. KDM7A is a novel histone demethylase specific for these two repressing marks.

KIAA1718 expression increased at the early phase of neural differentiation. Knockdown of the gene blocked neural differentiation and the effect was rescued by the wild-type human gene, and not by a catalytically inactive mutant. In addition, overexpression of KIAA1718 accelerated neural differentiation. The pro-neural differentiation effect of KDM7A is mediated through direct transcriptional activation of FGF4, a signal molecule implicated in neural differentiation. The PHD-type zinc finger mediates the binding to H3K4me3. Binding to H3K4me3 prevents its access to H3K9me2.