Histone-lysine N-methyltransferase SETD2 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the SETD2 gene.

Huntington's disease (HD), a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by loss of striatal neurons, is caused by an expansion of a polyglutamine tract in the HD protein huntingtin. This gene encodes a protein belonging to a class of huntingtin interacting proteins characterized by WW motifs. This protein is a histone methyltransferase that is specific for lysine-36 of histone H3, and methylation of this residue is associated with active chromatin. This protein also contains a novel transcriptional activation domain and has been found associated with hyperphosphorylated RNA polymerase II. [provided by RefSeq, Aug 2008]. Publication Note: This RefSeq record includes a subset of the publications that are available for this gene. Please see the Gene record to access additional publications.
Function: Histone methyltransferase that methylates 'Lys-36' of histone H3. H3 'Lys-36' methylation represents a specific tag for epigenetic transcriptional activation. Probably plays a role in chromatin structure modulation during elongation via its interaction with hyperphosphorylated POLR2A. Binds DNA at promoters. May also act as a transcription activator that binds to promoters. Binds to the promoters of adenovirus 12 E1A gene in case of infection, possibly leading to regulate its expression.