# KMT5A

Source: https://onco.cc/targets/kmt5a/  
OnCo record `kmt5a` (Target). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

KMT5A (N-lysine methyltransferase KMT5A) is a gene that drives cell growth when it is altered. The public catalogues list it as an oncogene driver, and it is called a cancer driver by mutation analysis of patient cohorts. Tied to Breast cancer.

## Summary

Protein-lysine N-methyltransferase that monomethylates both histones and non-histone proteins. Specifically monomethylates 'Lys-20' of histone H4 (H4K20me1). H4K20me1 is enriched during mitosis and represents a specific tag for epigenetic transcriptional repression.

IntOGen calls it a driver in 1 cohort (1 activating, 0 loss-of-function), covering Invasive Breast Carcinoma.

## Fields

- Kind: Target
- Last checked: 2026-09-23
- Also known as: lysine methyltransferase 5A; N-lysine methyltransferase KMT5A; SET8; SET07; PR-Set7; SETD8
- Tags: cancer-genes-wave
- Symbol: KMT5A
- Class: oncogene
- Biology: Protein-lysine N-methyltransferase that monomethylates both histones and non-histone proteins. Specifically monomethylates 'Lys-20' of histone H4 (H4K20me1). H4K20me1 is enriched during mitosis and represents a specific tag for epigenetic transcriptional repression. Mainly functions in euchromatin regions, thereby playing a central role in the silencing of euchromatic genes. Required for cell proliferation, probably by contributing to the maintenance of proper higher-order structure of DNA during mitosis. Involved in chromosome condensation and proper cytokinesis. Location: Nucleus; Chromosome (UniProt). Locus 12q24.31 (HGNC).
- Where found: Breast cancer: IntOGen driver in 1 cohort (BRCA)

## Notes

- Written by scripts/fetch-cancer-genes.ts from CIViC, Open Targets, IntOGen, HGNC and UniProt; the function text is UniProt's, condensed and in UK spelling. Roles: IntOGen calls it an activating (Act) driver in 1 cohort. Evidence tier "cohort-driver" is the strongest of those signals.
- Prevalence not recorded: none of the sources gives a positivity rate.

## Sources

- HGNC HGNC:29489: https://www.genenames.org/data/gene-symbol-report/#!/hgnc_id/HGNC:29489
- UniProt Q9NQR1: https://www.uniprot.org/uniprotkb/Q9NQR1/entry
- NCBI Gene 387893: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/387893
- Ensembl ENSG00000183955: https://www.ensembl.org/Homo_sapiens/Gene/Summary?g=ENSG00000183955

## Connected records

- collections: [IntOGen](https://onco.cc/collections/intogen/)
- cancers: [Breast cancer (all types)](https://onco.cc/cancers/breast-cancer/)

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JSON: https://onco.cc/api/v1/entities/kmt5a.json