KAT6A (Lysine Acetyltransferase 6A), also known as MOZ (Monocytic Leukemia Zinc Finger Protein), is a histone acetyltransferase that plays critical roles in gene regulation and has been implicated in neurodegenerative diseases.
The Allen Brain Atlas provides gene expression data for KAT6A:
- Human Brain Expression: Searchable expression data across brain regions
- Cell Type Specificity: Expression patterns in different neuronal populations
- View Expression Data
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Gene: [KAT6A](/genes/kat6a)
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UniProt ID: [Q92794](https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/Q92794)
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PDB ID: [5C7Z](https://www.rcsb.org/structure/5C7Z)
Molecular Weight: ~225 kDa (2004 amino acids)
Subcellular Localization: Nucleus, nuclear speckles
Protein Family: MOZ/YBF2/SAS3/ESA1 (MYST) family
Associated Diseases: [Alzheimer's Disease](/diseases/alzheimers-disease), [Parkinson's Disease](/diseases/parkinsons-disease), [ALS](/diseases/amyotrophic-lateral-sclerosis), Neurodevelopmental disorders
KAT6A (also known as MOZ, MYST4, or ZNF220) is a transcriptional coactivator and histone acetyltransferase belonging to the MYST family. Encoded by the KAT6A gene, this 2004-amino acid protein contains multiple functional domains including an N-terminal transactivation domain, a C-terminal HAT domain, and zinc finger domains for DNA binding. KAT6A plays essential roles in embryonic development, hematopoiesis, and neuronal function through its histone acetylation activity.
KAT6A has a complex multi-domain architecture:
¶ Domain Organization
- N-terminal transactivation domain (residues 1-500): Transcriptional activation
- PHD-type zinc fingers (residues 500-800): Chromatin binding
- CHROMO domain (residues 800-950): Histone binding
- MYST HAT domain (residues 1400-1800): Histone acetyltransferase activity
- C-terminal zinc finger (residues 1800-2000): DNA binding
- Catalytic HAT domain characteristic of MYST family
- Multiple chromatin reader domains
- Dimerization capability through N-terminal domains
- Nuclear localization signal sequences
KAT6A functions as a transcriptional coactivator:
- Histone H3 and H4 acetylation at gene promoters
- Transcriptional activation of development genes
- Regulation of neuronal differentiation
- Histone acetylation balance for learning and memory
| Target |
Function |
Relevance |
| Hox genes |
Development |
Neurodevelopment |
| p53 |
Tumor suppression |
Cell survival |
| Estrogen receptor |
Transcription |
Hormone signaling |
- Expressed in neural progenitor cells
- Required for cortical development
- Implicated in synaptic plasticity
- Role in memory formation
- KAT6A levels altered in AD brain [^8]
- Role in epigenetic regulation of AD-related genes
- Interaction with APP processing
- Potential therapeutic target for cognitive decline
- Dysregulated in PD models [^9]
- Role in dopaminergic neuron survival
- Epigenetic modifications in PD pathogenesis
- Altered histone acetylation in ALS [^10]
- KAT6A in motor neuron development
- Potential role in TDP-43 pathology
- KAT6A mutations cause intellectual disability [^11]
- Autism spectrum associations
- Role in early brain development
- HAT domain inhibitors under investigation
- Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors as counterbalances
- Epigenetic therapy approaches
- Small molecules targeting KAT6A activity
- ChIP-seq for genome-wide mapping
- Histone acetylation reporters
- CRISPR-based epigenetic editing