Enhancer of polycomb homolog 1 (EPC1)

Enhancer of polycomb homolog 1 (EPC1) is a chromatin regulatory protein belonging to the polycomb group family. EPC1 functions as a non-catalytic component of the NuA4 histone acetyltransferase complex and acts as a cofactor for transcription factors, notably E2F1, modulating transcriptional programs that control apoptosis, DNA repair, cell differentiation, and gene silencing. Dysregulation of EPC1 is implicated in multiple cancer types, sustaining oncogenic gene expression and promoting resistance to DNA-damaging agents. EPC1 exerts both transcriptional activation and repression depending on its interacting partners, and is linked to critical processes such as skeletal muscle differentiation and hematopoietic stem cell regulation[1][4][7][5].

Other names

EPL1Enhancer of polycomb homolog 1 (Drosophila)Epl1EPC1

EPC1 itself is not a direct drug target; it interacts with transcription factors (like E2F1) and is a non-catalytic subunit in NuA4/TIP60, modulating histone acetylation, chromatin accessibility, and gene expression[1][4][7]. Drugs affecting histone acetylation (such as histone deacetylase inhibitors, or HAT modulators) may indirectly affect EPC1-dependent functions, but no drugs are classified with a direct mechanism specifically targeting EPC1.