Lysine Specific Demethylase 5C (KDM5C)

KDM5C is a member of the SMCY homolog family and encodes a protein with one ARID domain, one JmjC domain, one JmjN domain and two PHD-type zinc fingers. The DNA-binding motifs suggest this protein is involved in the regulation of transcription and chromatin remodeling. Alternative splicing generates 2 distinct transcripts, either containing or missing 9 nucleotides, which in turn predicts 2 XE169 protein isoforms composed of 1,557 and 1,560 amino acids, respectively. XE169 is expressed in multiple human tissues, and homologous sequences exist on the human Y chromosome and in the genomes of 5 other eutherian mammals examined. RT-PCR analysis of somatic cell hybrids containing either an active or an inactive human X chromosome on a rodent background demonstrated that XE169 escapes X inactivation.