Histones play a critical role in transcriptional regulation, cell cycle progression, and developmental events. Histone acetylation/deacetylation alters chromosome structure and affects transcription factor access to DNA. The protein encoded by this gene belongs to class II of the histone deacetylase/acuc/apha family. It possesses histone deacetylase activity and represses transcription when tethered to a promoter. This protein does not bind DNA directly, but through transcription factors MEF2C and MEF2D. It seems to interact in a multiprotein complex with RbAp48 and HDAC3. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008],AHO3, BDMR, HA6116, HD4, HDAC-4, HDAC-A, HDACA,Cardiovascular,Cell Biology & Developmental Biology,Cell Cycle,Epigenetics & Nuclear Signaling,G1/S Checkpoint,Heart,Heart_Hypertrophy,Immunology & Inflammation,NF-kB Signaling Pathway,Notch Signaling Pathway,Nuclear Receptor Signaling,Signal Transduction,Stem Cells,Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway,HDAC4