Histone demethylase that demethylates ‘Lys-4’ of histone H3, a specific tag for epigenetic transcriptional activation, thereby acting as a corepressor. Required for de novo DNA methylation of a subset of imprinted genes during oogenesis. Acts by oxidizing the substrate by FAD to generate the corresponding imine that is subsequently hydrolyzed. Demethylates both mono- and di-methylated ‘Lys-4’ of histone H3. Has no effect on tri-methylated ‘Lys-4’, mono-, di- or tri-methylated ‘Lys-9’, mono-, di- or tri-methylated ‘Lys-27’, mono-, di- or tri-methylated ‘Lys-36’ of histone H3, or on mono-, di- or tri-methylated ‘Lys-20’ of histone H4. Alone, it is unable to demethylate H3K4me on nucleosomes and requires the presence of GLYR1 to achieve such activity, they form a multifunctional enzyme complex that modifies transcribed chromatin and facilitates Pol II transcription through nucleosomes (PubMed:30970244).
