Romidepsin itself is not a catalyst but acts on the catalytic activity of histone deacetylases (HDACs). HDACs are enzymes that remove acetyl groups from histone proteins, leading to chromatin condensation and transcriptional repression. By inhibiting HDACs, romidepsin increases the acetylation of histones, resulting in a more relaxed chromatin structure and the activation of gene expression. This mechanism is crucial for inducing apoptosis in cancer cells.
