KAT8 regulatory NSL complex subunit 2 (KANSL2)

KAT8 regulatory NSL complex subunit 2 (KANSL2) is a protein encoded by the KANSL2 gene on human chromosome 12. It is an integral, non-catalytic subunit of the NSL chromatin-modifying complex, functioning chiefly in the regulation of histone H4 acetylation and transcriptional initiation. KANSL2 interacts directly with complex members such as WDR5 and KANSL1, enabling NSL complex assembly and recruitment to target chromatin regions. KANSL2 plays a major role in maintaining embryonic stem cell pluripotency and self-renewal; in the context of disease, it is upregulated in glioblastoma, where it sustains cancer stem-like cell populations, tumor formation, and therapy resistance. Silencing KANSL2 reduces stemness markers (e.g., POU5F1, NANOG) and impairs tumorigenicity in glioblastoma models, highlighting its role as a candidate biomarker and prospective therapeutic target in oncology. Genetic defects in KANSL2 are associated with developmental disorders emphasizing its importance in normal human biology.

Other names

Non-specific lethal 2 homologC12orf41NSL2FLJ20436NSL complex protein NSL2

No approved drugs; theoretical mechanisms would involve modulation of chromatin acetylation or NSL complex disruption if targeted.