Research area: Cancer

BRD4 (bromodomain-containing protein 4) belongs to the BET (bromodomain and extra-terminal) family. The protein has two bromodomains (BD1 and BD2) connected via a long interdomain linker.Human Bromodomain containing 4, also known as BRD4, HUNK1, or MCAP (GenBank Accession No. NM_058243) amino-acids 49-170 with N-terminal His-tag, MW = 15.5kDa, expressed in an Escherichia coli expression system.

BRD4 (bromodomain-containing protein 4) works as a reader of epigenetic marks and is involved in chromatin remodeling and transcriptional regulation. Therefore, it is a target for oncology, inflammation and cardiovascular disease. This gene is upregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma and is associated with poor prognosis. BRD4 is also associated with melanoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, multiple myeloma, Burkitt′s lymphoma, acute myeloid leukemia and breast cancer. BRD4 connects cell cycle and transcription, works as a scaffold for transcription factors and bookmarks active genes during mitosis. It interacts with acetylated histone-3 and histone-4 tails and helps in maintaining chromatin architecture. Also, it regulates transcription elongation via phosphorylation of RNA polymerase II.