PHD Finger Protein 13 Protein

Background

PHF13 is a chromatin-binding protein with a PHD finger domain that recognizes methylated histone residues, particularly H3K4me3, to regulate transcriptional activation and chromatin accessibility. It functions as a transcriptional co-activator, recruiting chromatin remodelers and transcription machinery to active gene loci. PHF13 is involved in processes such as DNA repair, cellular differentiation, and the regulation of pluripotency genes in embryonic stem cells. It is expressed in various tissues, including hematopoietic and neural lineages, where it modulates lineage-specific gene expression programs. Dysregulation of PHF13 has been associated with impaired DNA damage response, developmental defects, and tumorigenesis, where altered chromatin dynamics affect cellular proliferation and survival. Knockout studies demonstrate reduced transcriptional activation, defective chromatin remodeling, and impaired cellular differentiation, underscoring its role in maintaining transcriptional fidelity and chromatin structure during development and stress responses.