Histone-lysine N-methyltransferase SETD7 belongs to histone methyltransferase that specifically monomethylates 'Lys-4' of histone H3. H3 'Lys-4' methylation represents a specific tag for epigenetic transcriptional activation. It plays a central role in the transcriptional activation of genes such as collagenase or insulin. It can be recruited by IPF1/PDX-1 to the insulin promoter, leading to activate transcription. SETD7 has also methyltransferase activity toward non-histone proteins such as p53/TP53, TAF10, Monomethylates 'Lys-372' of p53/TP53, stabilizing p53/TP53 and increasing p53/TP53-mediated transcriptional activation.
Kwon T, Chang JH, Kwak E, Lee CW, Joachimiak A, Kim YC, Lee J, Cho Y. Mechanism of histone lysine methyl transfer revealed by the structure of set7/9-adomet. Embo J. (2003) 22 p.292