# Supplement to Support Research Training in HDAC11 and Cancer

> **NIH NIH R01** · GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $72,867

## Abstract

Project Summary
 The histone deacetylaces (HDACs) are originally discovered as critical epigenetic regulators implicated
in a wide range of cancers. HDACs are most associated with their namesake deacetylase activity; they
catalyze the removal of acetyl groups from lysine residues, which typically condenses chromatin and
decreases expression of certain genes. However, there is increasing evidence that many HDACs exhibit other
enzymatic functions such as defatty-acylase activity. Additionally, HDACs have been illustrated to interact with
proteins other than histones; HDAC11 was previously illustrated to functionally interact with RNA splicing
machinery. Thus, the enzymatic mechanism(s) and target proteins of HDACs are not fully understood.
 In supplement to our Parent R01 grant aimed at studying HDAC11 in lymphoma, we strive to
investigate HDAC11 defatty-acylation in RNA splicing. Defatty-acylation can direct the localization of proteins,
and HDAC11 functions more efficiently as a cytosolic defatty-acylase than as a nuclear deacetylase.
Therefore, our aim is to identify HDAC11 proximate proteins in cancer cells, pinpoint the function of HDAC11
defatty-acylation, and identify alternatively spliced mRNAs in response to HDAC11 disruption. The proposed
work will advance understanding of HDAC11 in cancer gene regulation, contribute to growing knowledge of
diverse HDAC functions, and potentially open new avenues for HDAC dependent cancer therapies.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10380397
- **Project number:** 3R01CA240529-02S1
- **Recipient organization:** GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Rong Li
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $72,867
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2020-06-01 → 2025-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10380397

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10380397, Supplement to Support Research Training in HDAC11 and Cancer (3R01CA240529-02S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10380397. Licensed CC0.

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