RUS  ENG
Full version
JOURNALS // Uspekhi Khimii // Archive

Usp. Khim., 2026 Volume 95, Issue 2, Pages 1–26 (Mi rcr4536)

KDM2 lysine demethylases: structure, functions, and anticancer targets

P. M. Osherova, A. V. Kurkinb, A. A. Shtilc, S. S. Borisevichad

a National Reseach Nuclear University MEPhI (Moscow Engineering Physics Institute), Moscow
b Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russian Federation
c N.N.Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, Moscow, Russian Federation
d Ufa Institute of Chemistry, Ufa Federal Research Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Ufa, Russian Federation

Abstract: Post-translational modifications of histones, the protein components of nucleosomes, regulate the local state of chromatin for optimal gene expression. Among these modifications, a balance of methylation and demethylation of particular lysine residues in histones is important, as under physiological conditions this balance provides the permissiveness of chromatin for template processes. An imbalance of methylation and demethylation leads to transcriptional deregulation, a characteristic feature of malignant cells. A specific feature of the author′s concept is a multidisciplinary approach to the analysis of complex and contradictory data on epigenetic regulators. This review presents general information about human histone lysine demethylases (KDM). For the KDM2 subgroup, structural features, mechanism of catalysis (histone demethylation), and the role in tumour biology are considered. Since KDM2 functions are not limited to enzymatic activity, the pharmacological approach for anticancer therapy implies both the design of demethylation blockers, with KDM2 being retained in the cells, and the search for possible tools for total elimination of these proteins.
The bibliography includes 174 references.

Keywords: lysine demethylases, KDM2, KDM2 inhibitors, JmjC domain, enzyme catalysis, epigenetic regulation, intracellular targets, malignant tumours.

Received: 25.11.2025

DOI: 10.59761/RCR5212


 English version:
Russian Chemical Reviews, 2026, 95:2, 1–25


© Steklov Math. Inst. of RAS, 2026