Histone H4 (Lactyl K8) Recombinant Rabbit mAb (S-3243-36)

Histone H4 (Lactyl K8), abbreviated as H4K8la, is a novel epigenetic modification involving the covalent attachment of a lactyl group to the 8th lysine residue of the histone H4 tail, serving as a direct molecular link between cellular glycolysis and gene transcriptional regulation. Discovered as part of the broader "histone lactylation" landscape, this mark is dynamically induced by high intracellular lactate levels, often resulting from hypoxia, intense exercise, or the Warburg effect in cancer cells. Functionally, H4K8la is strongly associated with the activation of specific gene programs; for instance, in macrophages, it accumulates during the late phase of polarization to promote the expression of reparative (M2-like) genes, thereby facilitating tissue repair and resolving inflammation, while in tumor microenvironments, it can drive the expression of oncogenes or factors supporting immune evasion. Mechanistically, the presence of the lactyl group at K8 alters chromatin structure and recruits specific "reader" proteins to enhance transcriptional elongation or initiation, distinguishing its regulatory role from the more constitutive H4K8 acetylation and highlighting its importance as a metabolic checkpoint in immunity, cancer progression, and developmental biology.