Lysine Specific Demethylase 3A (KDM3A)

The deduced protein contains 1,236 amino acids. RT-PCR ELISA detected highest expression in testis, followed by ovary, kidney, lung, heart, and brain. Moderate expression was detected in liver, skeletal muscle, pancreas, and spleen.

Mutation studies showed that the JmjC domain and zinc finger of JMJD1A were required for its enzymatic activity. Overexpression of JMJD1A in COS cells reduced H3K9 methylation, and knockdown of JMJD1A in mouse cells resulted in increased dimethyl-K9 levels at the promoter region of a subset of genes concomitant with their decreased expression. JMJD1A exhibited hormone-dependent recruitment to androgen receptor (AR) target genes in a human prostate cancer cell line, resulting in H3K9 demethylation and transcriptional activation.