HDAC inhibitors are a class of compounds that interfere with the function of histone deacetylases (HDACs). HDACs are enzymes that remove acetyl groups from histone proteins, leading to a condensed chromatin structure and reduced gene expression. By inhibiting these enzymes, HDAC inhibitors result in an open chromatin structure, allowing for increased gene transcription. This altered gene expression can lead to cancer cell cycle arrest, differentiation, and apoptosis.
