Responsible for the deacetylation of lysine residues on the N-terminal part of the core histones (H2A, H2B, H3 and H4). Histone deacetylation gives a tag for epigenetic repression and plays an important role in transcriptional regulation, cell cycle progression and developmental events. Histone deacetylases act via the formation of large multiprotein complexes. Involved in muscle maturation via its interaction with the myocyte enhancer factors such as MEF2A, MEF2C and MEF2D.Wang AH, et al. (2000) Mol Cell Biol. 20(18): 6904-6912.Grozinger CM, et al. (2000) Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 97(14): 7835-7840.