AUTHOR=Xin Xiaoming , Wu Lingjuan , Liu Meichen , Liu Tian , Yuan Zihan , Zhang Liang , Duan Tongqing , Zhang Lei , Zhu Xianmin 
  
TITLE=KAT5: the epigenetic regulator of central nervous system diseases
  
JOURNAL=Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience
  
VOLUME=Volume 19 - 2026
  
YEAR=2026
  
URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/molecular-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnmol.2026.1887674
  
DOI=10.3389/fnmol.2026.1887674
  
ISSN=1662-5099
  
ABSTRACT=Abnormal epigenetic modifications are involved in central nervous system (CNS) diseases. Histones play a crucial role in chromatin structure and function, whose post-translational modifications significantly impact gene expression and chromatin dynamics. Histone acetylation, governed by the balance between histone acetyltransferases (HATs) and histone deacetylases (HDACs), is one of the key modulators of chromatin accessibility and transcriptional activity. Lysine acetyltransferase 5 (KAT5, aka TIP60), a member of the MYST subfamily of HATs, is involved in many cellular processes, including DNA repair, apoptosis, and cell cycle control. Notably, the dysfunction of KAT5 has been implicated in several CNS diseases. In this review, we explored the roles of KAT5 in CNS pathophysiology, emphasizing its involvement in neurological disorders and its potential as a therapeutic target. This review sheds light on the epigenetic mechanisms in CNS diseases mediated by KAT5 and provides valuable information for potential treatment strategies.