BAZ

BAZ (bromodomain adjacent to zinc finger) family bromodomains are epigenetic reader domains that recognize acetylated lysine marks on histones and contribute to chromatin-based gene regulation through histone-acetylation-dependent protein recruitment^[1][2]. Within this family, BAZ2A and BAZ2B bromodomains bind acetylated histone tails, with evidence supporting preferential recognition of H3K14ac, a modification linked to chromatin remodeling and transcriptional control^[1][3][4]. Mechanistically, BAZ2A functions within chromatin regulatory complexes and mediates association with H3K14ac-enriched chromatin domains, thereby influencing transcriptional programs connected to cellular differentiation and developmental pathways^[3]. In disease-relevant models, BAZ2A bromodomain activity has been implicated in aggressive prostate cancer, where bromodomain-dependent chromatin engagement supports cancer stem-cell-like features and contributes to oncogenic transformation in PTEN-loss models^[3].