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enhancer of zeste 2 polycomb repressive complex 2 subunit

The EZH2 gene provides instructions for making a type of enzyme called a histone methyltransferase. Histone methyltransferases modify proteins called histones, which are structural proteins that attach (bind) to DNA and give chromosomes their shape. By adding a molecule called a methyl group to histones (methylation), histone methyltransferases can turn off (suppress) the activity of certain genes, an essential process in normal development. Specifically, the EZH2 enzyme forms part of a protein group called the polycomb repressive complex-2. By turning off particular genes, this complex is involved in the process that determines the type of cell an immature cell will ultimately become (cell fate determination).

Normal function

The EZH2 gene provides instructions for making a type of enzyme called a histone methyltransferase. Histone methyltransferases modify proteins called histones, which are structural proteins that attach (bind) to DNA and give chromosomes their shape. By adding a molecule called a methyl group to histones (methylation), histone methyltransferases can turn off (suppress) the activity of certain genes, an essential process in normal development. Specifically, the EZH2 enzyme forms part of a protein group called the polycomb repressive complex-2. By turning off particular genes, this complex is involved in the process that determines the type of cell an immature cell will ultimately become (cell fate determination).

Conditions referring to this gene or chromosome

Other names

enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (Drosophila)

ENX-1

EZH2_HUMAN

histone-lysine N-methyltransferase EZH2

KMT6

KMT6A

lysine N-methyltransferase 6

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Further reading and references

Article history

The information on this page is written and peer reviewed by qualified clinicians.
  • 18 Aug 2020 | Latest version
  • 1 May 2013 | Originally published

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