Roles of Jumonji and Jumonji Family Genes in Chromatin Regulation and Development

The document from 2006 explores the jumonji (jmj) gene and the jumonji family of proteins, emphasizing their significance in chromatin regulation and development. It reveals that mutations in the jmj gene in mice lead to developmental abnormalities and in utero death, with a particular impact on cell proliferation and differentiation in the heart and brain. The jmj protein's role in repressing cyclin D1 expression is crucial for proper cardiac myocyte differentiation and neural development. The study also touches on the Hairless gene, a member of the jumonji family, which is linked to hair loss in mice and humans due to its role in hair follicle regeneration. The Hairless protein's interaction with nuclear receptors and its repression of Wise expression, a modulator of Wnt signaling, are critical for hair follicle regeneration. The document concludes by highlighting the need for further research on the specific molecular functions of jumonji family proteins, their gene targets, and their involvement in biological processes like development, while noting the discovery of some jumonji family members as histone demethylases.