SET and MYND domain containing 2 (SMYD2)

SET and MYND domain containing 2 (SMYD2) is a histone lysine methyltransferase enzyme characterized by its split SET domain interrupted by a MYND domain, which distinguishes it from other SET domain-containing protein lysine methyltransferases (PKMTs). Encoded by the SMYD2 gene on human chromosome 1, it catalyzes methylation of lysine residues on histones and other proteins, playing a key role in epigenetic regulation. SMYD2 contributes to embryonic stem cell differentiation and broader cellular processes involving chromatin modification. In disease contexts, it has been implicated in cancer through its involvement in findings from gene expression studies and potential oncogenic activity via aberrant methylation. As a member of the SMYD family, it features structural motifs like SET and MYND zinc finger domains, enabling substrate-specific lysine methylation. No approved drugs directly target SMYD2, though its enzymatic function positions it as a potential therapeutic target in oncology and epigenetics research.

Other names

SMYD2