Overview:

EHMT2 is a lysine-preferring histone methyltransferase. EHMT2 can methylate itself at K165 and this automethylation is necessary and sufficient to mediate in vivo interaction of EHMT2 with heterochromatin protein-1 (HP1) (1). EHMT2 is responsible for the majority of dimethylation of histone H3 at lysine 9 (H3K9me2) and is required for the efficient repression of developmentally regulated genes during embryonic stem cell differentiation (2). EHMT2 is overexpressed in various cancers and can can specifically methylate p53 at Lys(373). EHMT2 polymorphisms have been associated with colorectal cancer.

Gene Aliases:

G9A, NG36, NG36/G9a

Genbank Number:

NM_006709

References:

1. Sampath, S C. et al: Methylation of a histone mimic within the histone methyltransferase G9a regulates protein complex assembly. Molec. Cell 27: 596-608, 2007.

2. Lehnertz B. et al: Activating and inhibitory functions for the histone lysine methyltransferase G9a in T helper cell differentiation and function. J Exp Med. 2010 May 10;207(5):915-22.