BD1 Binding to H4K5acK8ac

The selective binding of BD1to H4K5acK8ac is important for Brdt (a testis-specific member of the BET protein family) to recognise multi-acetylated histones H4, allowing Brdt to associate with and to compact hyperacetylated chromatin. This is a crucial process during spermatogenesis, and the deletion of BD1 in male mice will cause defects in post-meiotic germ cells and prevent them from maturing into fully differentiated sperm, which leads to sterility.