HDAC8 (histone deacetylase 8) is a class I enzyme, that has 377 residues and it lies between class I and class II HDACs. This gene is located on X chromosome. It consists of a single α/β domain, in which eight parallel stranded β sheets are sandwiched between 13 α helices.

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are a large family of enzymes that remove acetyl groups from histone proteins. Site specific histone acetylation and deacetylation have been shown to activate or repress eukaryotic gene transcription, respectively, and as a consequence, it plays a crucial role in mammalian development and disease. HDACs are involved in important biological activities, such as cell differentiation, proliferation, apoptosis, and senescence.

With Sigma′s HDAC8 Activity Assay Kit, HDAC8 present in a test sample will act with the supplied Developer, to deacetylate and then cleave the HDAC8 Substrate (R-H-K(Ac)-K(Ac)-AFC). This activity will release the quenched fluorescent group, AFC, which can be detected at Em/Ex = 380/500 nm. Trichostatin A is an HDAC inhibitor included in the kit to verify HDAC8 activity. The kit provides a rapid, simple, sensitive, and reliable test. It is suitable for either individual tests or high throughput assays, from nuclear extracts, purified, or immunoprecipitated HDAC8, and from native, recombinant, or genetically modified HDAC8.

HDAC8 (histone deacetylase 8), with the help of PKA (cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase A) plays a major role in confirming the acetylation state of histones. This protein may also plays an important role in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Suppression of HDAC8 by RNA interference stops the growth of lung, colon, and cervical cancer cell lines.