Histone Demethylase LSD1 Controls the Phenotypic Plasticity of Cancer Cells

Overview

Journal Cancer Sci

Specialty Oncology

Date 2016 Jul 5

PMID 27375009

Citations 42

Authors

Shinjiro Hino

Kensaku Kohrogi

Mitsuyoshi Nakao

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Epigenetic mechanisms underlie the phenotypic plasticity of cells, while aberrant epigenetic regulation through genetic mutations and/or misregulated expression of epigenetic factors leads to aberrant cell fate determination, which provides a foundation for oncogenic transformation. Lysine-specific demethylase-1 (LSD1, KDM1A) removes methyl groups from methylated proteins, including histone H3, and is frequently overexpressed in various types of solid tumors and hematopoietic neoplasms. While LSD1 is involved in a wide variety of normal physiological processes, including stem cell maintenance and differentiation, it is also a key player in oncogenic processes, including compromised differentiation, enhanced cell motility and metabolic reprogramming. Here, we present an overview of how LSD1 epigenetically regulates cellular plasticity through distinct molecular mechanisms in different biological contexts. Targeted inhibition of the context-dependent activities of LSD1 may provide a highly selective means to eliminate cancer cells.

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