PHF2

This gene encodes a protein which contains a zinc finger-like PHD (plant homeodomain) finger, distinct from other classes of zinc finger motifs, and a hydrophobic and highly conserved domain. The PHD finger shows the typical Cys4-His-Cys3 arrangement. PHD finger genes are thought to belong to a diverse group of transcriptional regulators possibly affecting eukaryotic gene expression by influencing chromatin structure. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]

Full Name

PHD Finger Protein 2

Function

Lysine demethylase that demethylates both histones and non-histone proteins (PubMed:20129925, PubMed:21167174, PubMed:21532585).
Enzymatically inactive by itself, and becomes active following phosphorylation by PKA: forms a complex with ARID5B and mediates demethylation of methylated ARID5B (PubMed:21532585).
Demethylation of ARID5B leads to target the PHF2-ARID5B complex to target promoters, where PHF2 mediates demethylation of dimethylated 'Lys-9' of histone H3 (H3K9me2), followed by transcription activation of target genes (PubMed:21532585).
The PHF2-ARID5B complex acts as a coactivator of HNF4A in liver. PHF2 is recruited to trimethylated 'Lys-4' of histone H3 (H3K4me3) at rDNA promoters and promotes expression of rDNA (PubMed:21532585).
Involved in the activation of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-target inflammatory genes in macrophages by catalyzing the demethylation of trimethylated histone H4 lysine 20 (H4K20me3) at the gene promoters (By similarity).

Biological Process

Epigenetic maintenance of chromatin in transcription-competent conformationISS:UniProtKB
Histone H4-K20 demethylationISS:UniProtKB
Liver developmentManual Assertion Based On ExperimentTAS:UniProtKB
Negative regulation of ribosomal DNA heterochromatin assemblyManual Assertion Based On ExperimentIMP:UniProtKB
Protein demethylationManual Assertion Based On ExperimentIDA:UniProtKB
Regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase IIManual Assertion Based On ExperimentIBA:GO_Central

Cellular Location

Nucleus, nucleolus
Chromosome, centromere, kinetochore

PTM

Phosphorylated by PKA on specific serine residues, leading to the formation of an active lysine demethylase complex.