EHMT1

The protein encoded by this gene is a histone methyltransferase that methylates the lysine-9 position of histone H3. This action marks the genomic region packaged with these methylated histones for transcriptional repression. This protein may be involved in the silencing of MYC- and E2F-responsive genes and therefore could play a role in the G0/G1 cell cycle transition. Defects in this gene are a cause of chromosome 9q subtelomeric deletion syndrome (9q-syndrome, also known as Kleefstra syndrome). Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants. [provided by RefSeq, Aug 2017]

Euchromatic Histone Lysine Methyltransferase 1

Histone methyltransferase that specifically mono- and dimethylates 'Lys-9' of histone H3 (H3K9me1 and H3K9me2, respectively) in euchromatin. H3K9me represents a specific tag for epigenetic transcriptional repression by recruiting HP1 proteins to methylated histones. Also weakly methylates 'Lys-27' of histone H3 (H3K27me). Also required for DNA methylation, the histone methyltransferase activity is not required for DNA methylation, suggesting that these 2 activities function independently. Probably targeted to histone H3 by different DNA-binding proteins like E2F6, MGA, MAX and/or DP1. During G0 phase, it probably contributes to silencing of MYC- and E2F-responsive genes, suggesting a role in G0/G1 transition in cell cycle. In addition to the histone methyltransferase activity, also methylates non-histone proteins: mediates dimethylation of 'Lys-373' of p53/TP53. Represses the expression of mitochondrial function-related genes, perhaps by occupying their promoter regions, working in concert with probable chromatin reader BAZ2B (By similarity).

Chromatin organization Source: UniProtKB
DNA methylation Source: UniProtKB
Histone methylation Source: UniProtKB
Negative regulation of transcription, DNA-templated Source: UniProtKB
Negative regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase II Source: Ensembl
Peptidyl-lysine dimethylation Source: UniProtKB
Peptidyl-lysine monomethylation Source: UniProtKB
Positive regulation of cold-induced thermogenesis Source: YuBioLab
Regulation of embryonic development Source: UniProtKB
Response to fungicide Source: Ensembl

Nucleus; Chromosome. Associates with euchromatic regions.

Kleefstra syndrome 1 (KLEFS1):
The disease is caused by variants affecting the gene represented in this entry. The syndrome can be either caused by intragenic EHMT1 mutations leading to haploinsufficiency of the EHMT1 gene or by a submicroscopic 9q34.3 deletion. Although it is not known if and to what extent other genes in the 9q34.3 region contribute to the syndrome observed in deletion cases, EHMT1 seems to be the major determinant of the core disease phenotype (PubMed:19264732). A form of Kleefstra syndrome, an autosomal dominant disease characterized by variable mental retardation, psychomotor developmental delay, seizures, behavioral abnormalities, and facial dysmorphisms. KLEFS1 patients additionally manifest brachy(micro)cephaly, congenital heart defects, and urogenital defects.