New histone acetylation/deacetylation specific inhibitors: a novel and potential approach to cancer therapy

The acetylation status of histones is regulated in eukaryotes by two kinds of enzymes, histone acetyltransferases (HATs) and histone deacetylases (HDACs), which are responsible for acetylation and deacetylation of lysines residues in N-terminal tails of histone.[1] Thus acetylation, together with phosphorylation and methylation of N-terminal tail of histones, are involved in regulating fundamental processes, such as proliferation and cell death.[2-3] Sodium butyrate, which belongs together with valproic acid to the class of short chain fatty acids, was the first HDAC inhibitor (HDACI) to be identified.[1] Organotin compounds have various influences on physical function including the hormone…