The role of the histone demethylase KDM4A in cancer

Histone posttranslational modifications are important components of epigenetic regulation. One extensively studied modification is the methylation of lysine residues. These modifications were thought to be irreversible. However, several proteins with histone lysine demethylase functions have been discovered and characterized. Among these proteins, KDM4A is the first histone lysine demethylase shown to demethylate trimethylated residues. This enzyme plays an important role in gene expression, cellular differentiation, and animal development. Recently, it has also been shown to be involved in cancer. In this review, we focus on describing the structure, mechanisms, and function of KDM4A. We primarily discuss the role of KDM4A in cancer development and the importance of KDM4A as a potential therapeutic target.