New roles for HDACs in the cytoplasm and muscle disorders

While HDACs are known for their epigenetic function, NIBR researchers have discovered cytoplasmic HDAC4 substrates involved in muscle physiology. The findings suggest blocking HDAC4 deacetylation activity could treat muscle atrophy and other musculoskeletal disorders.

HDACs are named for their ability to modify histones, but HDAC4 and other class IIa HDACs don't potently deacetylate the nuclear proteins. While the targets and functions of class IIa HDACs haven't been well characterized, it's been hypothesized that their substrates aren't histones, or that they lack physiologically relevant deacetylation activity and instead help recruit class I HDACs, which potently deacetylate histones...