Overview:

HDAC2 or Histone deacetylase 2 belongs to the histone deacetylase family that acts via the formation of large multiprotein complexes, and is responsible for the deacetylation of lysine residues at the N-terminal regions of core histones (H2A, H2B, H3 and H4). HDAC2 forms transcriptional repressor complexes by associating with many different proteins and plays an important role in transcriptional regulation, cell cycle progression and developmental events. HDAC2 functions in modulating synaptic plasticity and long-lasting changes of neural circuits, which in turn negatively regulates learning and memory (1). HDAC1 and HDAC2 are functionally redundant in cardiac growth and development and they maintain cardiomyocyte identity and function (2).

References:

1. Guan, J.S. et.al: HDAC2 negatively regulates memory formation and synaptic plasticity. Nature 459: 55-60, 2009.2. Montgomery, R. L. et.al: Histone deacetylases 1 and 2 redundantly regulate cardiac morphogenesis, growth, and contractility. Genes Dev. 21: 1790-1802, 2007.