Kat14-flox Mouse

Kat14, also known as Atac2, is a histone acetyltransferase. It is part of the hATAC complex and has histone acetyl transferase activity, preferentially acetylating histone H4 [2,4]. It is involved in various biological processes related to chromatin-remodeling, gene expression regulation, and may play a role in the epigenetic machinery [2,4,5].

In ovarian endometrioma, Kat14 was upregulated in ectopic lesions and predominantly expressed in activated fibroblasts. In vitro studies in endometrial stromal cells showed that Kat14 overexpression promoted a TGF-β-induced profibrotic response, while silencing had adverse effects. In an endometriosis mouse model, Kat14 knockdown ameliorated fibrosis in ectopic lesions. Mechanistically, Kat14 directly interacts with serum response factor (SRF) to promote the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) by increasing histone H4 acetylation at promoter regions, which is necessary for TGF-β-induced ECM production and myofibroblast differentiation [1]. In the pea aphid, silencing of Kat14 promoted survival or increased the number of offspring, suggesting its role in life-history traits [3].

In conclusion, Kat14 is an important histone acetyltransferase involved in chromatin-remodeling and gene expression. Its role in promoting fibrosis in ovarian endometrioma through interaction with SRF has been revealed by in vitro and in vivo studies, especially the use of gene knockdown in a mouse model. Also, its impact on the life-history traits of the pea aphid indicates its broad-ranging biological functions.