Histone lysine demethylases: emerging roles in development, physiology and disease.

The discovery of an increasing number of histone demethylases has highlighted the dynamic nature of the regulation of histone methylation, a key chromatin modification that is involved in eukaryotic genome and gene regulation. A flurry of recent studies has offered glimpses into the specific biological roles of these enzymes and their potential connections to human diseases. These advances have also catalysed a resurgence of interest in epigenetic regulators as potential therapeutic targets.