1. Introduction

Zinc finger myeloid, nervy, and deformed epidermal autoregulatory factor 1-type containing 8 (Zinc finger MYND-type containing 8, ZMYND8) is a multifunctional transcription factor harboring conserved chromatin-binding module with affinity for chromatin [1]. It was initially identified as activated protein-kinase-C (PKC)-binding protein and is a member of the receptor for activated C-kinase (RACK) family proteins that anchor activated PKC and increase its phosphorylation and duration of inactivation; it is also called RACK7 [2,3]. ZMYND8 contains a Pro-Trp-Trp-Pro (PWWP) chromatin-binding domain, a bromodomain (BRD), a plant homeodomain (PHD) type zinc finger, and a MYND domain for protein–protein interaction (Figure 1) [3,4]. The PHD–BRD–PWWP (PBP) domains are histone readers, and the proteins containing PBP domains have various chromatin-related functions [5].

Figure 1. Schematic representation of ZMYND8. ZMYND8 domains include the N-terminal PHD/BRD/PWWP reader cassette and a C-terminal MYND interacting domain. MYND: Myeloid, nervy, and deformed epidermal autoregulatory factor 1; ZMYND8: Zinc finger MYND-type containing 8; PHD: Plant homeodomain; BRD: Bromodomain; PWWP: Pro-Trp-Trp-Pro.

ZMYND8 is a core chromatin reader/effector, with distinct affinity for histone H3 and H4 [2,4,5,6]. The N-terminal PHD–BRD–PWWP domains of ZMYND8 can read several acetyl and methyl lysine residues on histones, including acetyl lysine 14 of H3 (H3K14ac), H4K16ac, and di- and tri-methyl lysine 36 of H3 (H3K36me2, H3K36me3) [6,7]. The PHD–BRD–PWWP domains of ZMYND8 form a stable structural reader ensemble and simultaneously engage histones and DNA, and then ZMYND8 is recruited to the transcriptional sites of the chromatin [7]. Mutation of the reader ensemble may affect the binding of ZMYND8 to histones by disrupting the interaction interface or destabilizing the domain topology [7]. ZMYND8 has been found to regulate gene expression by recognizing dual histone marks [8]. It regulates the expression of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA)-responsive genes through specific recognition of H3K36me2/H4K16ac [9,10]. It also recognizes H3K4me1/H3K14ac in DU154 and CWR22Rv1 prostate cancer cells [8], as well as H3K36me2/H4K16ac in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells [4,9]. The dual recognition of two different histone modification by ZMYND8 suggests that the two separate conserved domains PWWP and BRD have different affinities towards their cognate histone binding partners [11]. When both H3K36me2 and H4K16ac exist in same histone octamer, the initial binding and recognition of the ZMYND8 to chromatin is considered through H3K36me2 because of its higher association rate, and the stability of the ZMYND8–nucleosome complex relies more on the binding to H4K16ac, due to its lower association rate [11].

ZMYND8 is involved in transcription activation and in regulating transcription initiation through its interaction with the RNA polymerase II complex [4,12]. Through its putative coiled-coil domain, ZMYND8 forms a homodimer that preferentially associates with positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb) complex, whereas the monomer associates with the chromodomain helicase DNA-binding protein 4 (CHD4) subunit of repressor nucleosome remodeling and deacetylase (NuRD) complex [4,12,13]. ZMYND8 and NuRD share a large number of genome-wide binding sites, mostly in active promoters and enhancers [14]. Both ZMYND8 and CHD4 modulate the expression of many genes and maintain genome integrity; silencing any one of them can alter global gene expression [4,12]. Silencing of ZMYND8 in HeLa cells increases the expression of 331 genes and decreases that of 438 genes [4]. ZMYND8 is important in modulating chromatin integrity and DNA repair [6,15,16]. Upon DNA double-strand break (DSB), histone modifications are altered to accommodate the DNA-damage signaling and the repair [6,15], and BRD2 protein and ZMYND8 are recruited to the DNA damages sites [17]. BRD2 occupies a spatially restricted region extending 2 kb either side of the DSB, and ZMYND8 spreads along the flanking chromatin [17]. The hyperacetylated chromatin domain is required for DBS repair, and the binding of BRD2 to H4ac protects the underlying acetylated chromatin from attack by histone deacetylases, whereas ZMYND8 is a repressor factor which limits transcription during DSB repair [17]. This creates a spatially restricted H4ac/BRD domain which facilitates DSB repair [17]. ZMYND8 interacts with various chromatin-remodeling complexes, histone demethylases/deacetylases, and acetyl transferases, including lysine demethylase 1A (KDM1A), KDM5A, KDM5C, and KDM5D, as well as histone acetyltransferase Tat-interactive protein-60KDa (TIP60) [4,6,8,12,16,18]. KDM5A-dependent demethylation is crucial for the binding of the ZMYND8–NuRD complex to chromatin and its recruitment to the locations of DNA damage (Figure 2) [15]. KDM5A causes H3K4me3 demethylation within chromatin, near the sites of DSB, while ZMYND8, NuRD complex, and KDM5A interact to repress transcription upon DNA damage [6,15]. KDM5A deficiency impairs the transcriptional silencing and the repair of DSBs by homologous recombination [15]. ZMYND8 also interacts with the NuRD complex and TIP60, to mediate DNA repair through homologous recombination [6,16]. In Xenopus embryos, ZMYND8 interacts with RE1-silencing transcription factor corepressor 2 (RCOR2), and together they function as transcriptional repressors in regulating neural differentiation [19]. Both ZMYND8 and p53 play a role in DSB repair [6,15,16]. In several breast cancer cells with distinct p53 genotypes, ZMYND8 loss induced consistent micronucleus formation and DNA-damage response [20]. Additionally, in ZMYND8-depleted human U2OS osteosarcoma cells, laser micro-irradiation induced sustained p53 phosphorylation, which is a DSB marker; in contrast, there was no sustained p53 phosphorylation in control cells [6]. These results imply ZMYND8 and p53 may function independently for repair of DNA damage.

Figure 2. Diagram showing the KDM5A–ZMYND8–NuRD pathway during DNA damage. Upon DNA damage, the hisTable 5. A. ZMYND8 interacts with the NuRD complex and recognizes the TIP60-dependent acetylation. Then ZMYND8–NuRD complex binds to the DNA damaged site, inhibits transcription, and promotes DNA repair. TIP60: Histone acetyltransferase Tat-interactive protein-60KDa; NuRD: Nucleosome remodeling and deacetylase; KDM5A: Lysine demethylase 5A; H4K16ac: Acetyl lysine 16 of H4; H3K4me3: Tri-methyl lysine 4 of H3.

2. Regulation of ZMYND8 to Treat Cancer

Aberrant regulation of gene expression and epigenetic mutations play an important role in carcinogenesis. ZMYND8 is a transcription factor, a histone H3-interacting protein, and a putative chromatin reader/effector, important for regulating transcription in normal cells, and its mutation, altered expression, and fusion with other genes, are associated with development and progression of cancer. Increased expression of ZMYND8 is associated with breast, prostate, colorectal, and cervical cancers, and it is pro-oncogenic in breast and prostate cancers [2,21,22,23]. ZMYND8 is induced during hypoxic conditions, and can promote angiogenesis in zebrafish, as well as in breast and prostate cancers [2,22]. In contrast, lower expression of ZMYND8 is linked to breast, prostate, and nasopharyngeal cancers, and ZMYND8 exerts tumor-suppressive effects on breast and prostate cancers [8,9,24,25]. It suppresses tumor growth by promoting differentiation; inhibiting proliferation, progression of cell cycle, invasiveness, and metastasis; and maintaining the epithelial phenotype in various types of cancer [8,9,24,25]. Although all of these results indicate that ZMYND8 is important in cancer, they are contradictory, and the actual role of ZMYND8 in cancer is still unclear. In addition, the investigations are limited to a few types of cancer, like that of breast and prostate. As ZMYND8 interacts with various transcriptional corepressors, chromatin remodeling complexes, histone demethylase/deacetylase, and acetyl transferase enzymes, the role of ZMYND8 in cancers may be related to not just its direct action, but to multiple factors. Different cell types, fusion with other genes, and the interaction of ZMYND8 with various binding partners may affect the functions of ZMYND8 in cancers. The interaction between ZMYND8 and various binding partners is considered to be crucial in determining whether the function of ZMYND8 is pro-oncogenic or tumor suppressive (Figure 5).

Figure 5. Diagram showing the pro-oncogenic and tumor-suppressive effects of ZMYND8 in cancers. The functions of ZMYND8 were considered through the interaction between ZMYND8 and a specific ZMYND8-binding partner. The ↑ indicates enhancement, and ↓ indicates suppression.

For example, the interaction between ZMYND8 and PKCβ or TROJAN may induce pro-oncogenic effects, while interaction between ZMYND8 and KDM5C, KDM5D, or ZNF592 may cause tumor-suppressive effects. Therefore, more studies are necessary, and they need to be focused not only on ZMYND8, but also on its specific binding partners in different cancer types. Hopefully, in the future, regulation of the expression of ZMYND8 and/or its binding partners may become useful in treating cancer.

This entry is adapted from the peer-reviewed paper 10.3390/molecules26041083