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Histone Deacetylases

Meaning

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are a family of enzymes that catalyze the removal of acetyl groups from the lysine residues on histone proteins, the structural spools around which DNA is tightly wrapped. This enzymatic activity promotes a more compact, condensed chromatin structure, which typically results in the transcriptional repression or silencing of the associated genes. HDACs are critical epigenetic regulators that link cellular signaling to genetic expression.