KAT6B (Lysine Acetyltransferase 6B), also known as MORF (MOZ-Related Factor), is a histone acetyltransferase closely related to KAT6A that plays critical roles in gene regulation and has been implicated in neurodegenerative processes.
The Allen Brain Atlas provides gene expression data for KAT6B:
- 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: [KAT6B](/genes/kat6b)
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UniProt ID: [Q8WYB5](https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/Q8WYB5)
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PDB ID: [5C83](https://www.rcsb.org/structure/5C83)
Molecular Weight: ~235 kDa (2071 amino acids)
Subcellular Localization: Nucleus, nuclear speckles
Protein Family: MYST family
Associated Diseases: [Alzheimer's Disease](/diseases/alzheimers-disease), [Parkinson's Disease](/diseases/parkinsons-disease), Neurodevelopmental disorders, Ohdo syndrome
KAT6B (also known as MORF, MYST4, or QCR) is a transcriptional coactivator and histone acetyltransferase belonging to the MYST family, closely related to KAT6A/MOZ. Encoded by the KAT6B gene, this 2071-amino acid protein shares significant homology with KAT6A and has overlapping as well as distinct functions in transcriptional regulation. KAT6B plays essential roles in development, cell cycle regulation, and neuronal function.
KAT6B has a complex multi-domain architecture similar to KAT6A:
¶ Domain Organization
- N-terminal domain (residues 1-520): Transcriptional activation
- PHD-type zinc fingers (residues 520-820): Chromatin binding
- CHROMO domain (residues 820-970): Histone binding
- MYST HAT domain (residues 1420-1850): Histone acetyltransferase activity
- C-terminal region (residues 1850-2071): Regulatory
- Highly conserved HAT domain (78% identity with KAT6A)
- Multiple chromatin reader domains
- Nuclear localization signals
- Dimerization interfaces
KAT6B functions as a transcriptional coactivator:
- Histone H3 and H4 acetylation [^7]
- Transcriptional activation of development and stress response genes
- Regulation of neuronal differentiation
- Complex formation with other transcriptional coactivators
| Pathway |
Function |
Brain Relevance |
| p53 pathway |
Stress response |
Neuronal survival |
| Nuclear receptors |
Hormone signaling |
Synaptic plasticity |
| Wnt signaling |
Development |
Neurogenesis |
- Expressed in neural progenitor cells
- Required for cortical development
- Role in synaptic plasticity and memory
- Expressed in hippocampus and cortex
- Altered expression in AD brain [^8]
- Role in epigenetic dysregulation
- Interaction with tau pathology
- Potential therapeutic target
- Dysregulated in PD models [^9]
- Role in dopaminergic neuron survival
- Epigenetic modifications in neurodegeneration
- KAT6B mutations cause Ohdo syndrome [^10]
- Intellectual disability phenotypes
- Genitopatellar syndrome
- Important for early brain development
- HAT domain-specific inhibitors
- Epigenetic therapy approaches
- Combination with HDAC inhibitors
- Targeted degradation strategies
- Histone acetylation sensors
- ChIP-grade antibodies
- CRISPR epigenetic editors