Lysine-specific histone demethylase 1A (LSD1) targets histone H3 lysines to regulate transcription. Wang et al. found that, in vitro, a neuronal LSD1 isoform (LSD1n) targeted a different substrate: histone H4 lysine 20 (H4K20). Lsd1n knockout (Lsd1n−/−) mouse neurons showed increased H4K20 methylation and impaired gene transcription following neuronal activity, and Lsd1n−/− mice showed deficits in two learning and memory tasks. Thus, LSD1n may promote activity-induced transcription in neurons and thereby regulate memory formation.
References
Wang, J. et al. LSD1n is an H4K20 demethylase regulating memory formation via transcriptional elongation control. Nat. Neurosci. http:/dx.doi.org/10.1038/nn.4069 (2015)
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Yates, D. Demethylated learning. Nat Rev Neurosci 16, 510 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn4016
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn4016
