Histone deacetylase 4 mRNA (HDAC4 mRNA)

Histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC4) mRNA is the transcript encoding a Class IIa histone deacetylase that serves as a critical regulator of gene expression through epigenetic modification and protein-protein interactions (UniProt: P56524). Unlike Class I HDACs, HDAC4 shuttles between the nucleus and cytoplasm, allowing it to respond to various cellular signals and regulate diverse processes such as muscle differentiation, bone morphogenesis, and neuronal survival (PubMed: 15341743, 23967118). In Huntington's disease, HDAC4 mRNA is targeted for knockdown because the resulting protein associates with mutant huntingtin, exacerbating protein aggregation and synaptic loss; reducing HDAC4 levels has been shown to improve motor function and extend lifespan in animal models (PubMed: 23967118). Therapeutic approaches targeting the mRNA, such as antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) and siRNAs, are being developed to achieve high specificity and reduce the expression of this protein in both neurodegenerative and oncological contexts (PubMed: 25116393). However, safety concerns remain regarding the potential for off-target effects and the disruption of HDAC4's essential roles in skeletal and cardiac development (OMIM: 600430).

Other names

HDAC4 transcriptHistone deacetylase 4 messenger RNAHD4 mRNA

Antisense-mediated degradation of the mRNA transcript via RNase H recruitment or RNA interference (RNAi), leading to a reduction in HDAC4 protein synthesis.