Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Trichostatin A
Introduction
Trichostatin A is an organic compound that serves as an antifungal antibiotic and selectively inhibits the mammalian histone deacetylase family of enzymes. TSA inhibits the eukaryotic cell cycle during the beginning of the growth stage. TSA can be used to alter gene expression by interfering with the removal of acetyl groups from histones and therefore altering the ability of DNA transcription factors to access the DNA molecules inside chromatin. Thus, TSA has some uses as an anti-cancer drug. By promoting the expression of apoptosis-related genes, it may lead to cancerous cells surviving at lower rates, thus slowing the progression of cancer.