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Introduction=
Histones are positively charged proteins that help organize DNA into tightly packed chromosomes by acting as a spool for DNA to wrap around. Histones have the capability to loosen or tighten their interactions with DNA to either promote or inhibit transcription. There are a variety of mechanisms that histones achieve these interactions, some examples being the addition or removal of acetyl, methyl, or phosphate groups. These modifications can either increase or decrease the affinity the histone has for the DNA strand. Demethylase proteins are responsible for removing methyl groups from different histone residues. While this is typically associated with increasing histone-DNA interaction, and thus silencing transcription, demethylation has also been associated with the promotion of transcription depending on the residue that is being demethylated.
There are two main classes of demethylase proteins and they are categorized by their co-factors and co-substrates. One class of demethylases uses an FAD co-factor to catalyze the demethylation reaction. The other class of demethylases uses a FE+2 ion and a-ketoglutarate as a co-substrate to catalyze the reaction. Although the co-factors used are different, both classes operate by hydroxylating the target methyl group. Lysine Specific Demethylase 1
