CHD8
chromodomain helicase DNA binding protein 8
Theoretical — per Powers
Gene summary
A protein-coding gene on chromosome 14 (epigenetic regulation). Encodes a member of the chromodomain-helicase-DNA binding protein family, which is characterized by a SNF2-like domain and two chromatin organization modifier domains. The protein also contains brahma and kismet domains, which are common to the subfamily of chromodomain-helicase-DNA binding proteins to which this protein belongs.
Source: NCBI Gene, accessed 2026-10-07.
Protein reference (UniProt)
- Protein
ATP-dependent chromatin remodeler CHD8
- Function (excerpt)
ATP-dependent chromatin-remodeling factor, it slides nucleosomes along DNA; nucleosome sliding requires ATP. Acts as a transcription repressor by remodeling chromatin structure and recruiting histone H1 to target genes. Suppresses p53/TP53-mediated apoptosis by recruiting histone H1 and preventing p53/TP53 transactivation activity. Acts as a negative regulator of Wnt signaling pathway by regulating beta-catenin (CTNNB1) activity. Negatively regulates CTNNB1-targeted gene expression by being recruited specifically to the promoter regions of several CTNNB1 responsive genes. Involved in both enhancer blocking and epigenetic remodeling at chromatin boundary via its interaction with CTCF. Acts as a suppressor of STAT3 activity by suppressing the LIF-induced STAT3 transcriptional activity. Also acts as a transcription activator via its interaction with ZNF143 by participating in efficient U6 RNA polymerase III transcription.
- Subcellular location
Nucleus.
- Associated conditions
Intellectual developmental disorder with autism and macrocephaly (IDDAM).
Source: UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot Q9HCK8, release 2026_03, licensed CC BY 4.0. This is the protein’s normal biology, not evidence about post-drug syndromes; associated conditions are inherited disorders of the gene, not PFS, PSSD or PRSD.
Why its pathway is in the library
Epigenetic persistence is the leading hypothesis for why post-drug syndromes endure after the drug is gone; chromatin regulators are therefore priority candidates in any persistence mechanism.
Written for the whole epigenetic regulation family, not for CHD8 specifically.
Powers’ note (his unpublished theorizing)
Named by Powers (2026 summit interview, unpublished): among epigenetic-monitoring genes showing recurring “glitches” in whole-genome sequencing of ~100 PFS patients; he theorizes failed removal of epigenetic flags after drug discontinuation.
Narrative library record
Function
ATP-dependent chromatin-remodeling enzyme of the CHD family (SNF2-like ATPase plus chromodomains); regulates transcription both up and down depending on recruited cofactors, interacting with beta-catenin/Wnt signaling, p53, CTCF, and histone-methylation complexes. A high-confidence autism risk gene; variants cause a neurodevelopmental syndrome.
Corpus relevance
Second of Powers' three recurring patient-genome hits (iWFDBRTgT3g), proposed as a PFS susceptibility locus. Notably, CHD8 is an established neurodevelopmental chromatin regulator - its appearance in Powers' patient genomes, if real, would parallel the corpus's neurosteroid/neurodevelopmental threads. Attribution: theoretical-per-Powers (unpublished interview claim).
Powers’ claims naming CHD8
- Powers gene claim
ARID1A; CHD8; HDAC10 — recurring "glitches" (unspecified)
Confidence: interview
In whole-genome sequencing of ~100 PFS patients, glitches in epigenetic monitoring genes — ARID1A, CHD8, HDAC10 — appear "more than they should" statistically. Epigenetic flags (e.g., for AR upregulation) may fail to be removed after drug discontinuation.
ARARID1ACHD8HDAC10PGL-ARID1A-CHD8-HDAC102026-04-29PFS
Mentioned in 7 corpus records
- Video
Dr. Will Powers Interview [PFS / PAS / PSSD Summit 2026]
Dr. Will Powers · SIDEfxHUB - PFS & PSSD Patient Organisation · 21:27 (1287s)
PFS, PAS, PSSD mechanism theory; Powers' unifying model; vulnerability screening
ARARID1ACHD8HDAC10YT-iWFDBRTgT3g2026-04-29PFSPSSDPRSDCore corpus - Timeline event
Richest primary source on his mature model: androgen-metabolism genomes 'broken at baseline,' glucuronidation-defect selection bias, three phenotypes (neurosteroid vs androgenic-silencing), window/crash dynamics, chemical-castration trials, epigenetic genes…
ARID1ACHD8HDAC10TL-2026-04-29-powers-summit-interview-uploaded-recorded-at-2026-pfs2026-04-29PFSPSSDPRSDCore corpus - Powers · Reddit commentCurated Powers pick
Re: Questions regarding current PFS theory
u/drwillpowers · r/DrWillPowers
Answering questions about variable onset and post-cessation crashes, Powers gives three linked explanations. First, milder or slower onsets reflect fewer defects — it takes longer to reach threshold. Second, people who crash on quitting had upregulated…
ARID1ACHD4CHD5CHD6CHD7+3PRH-15012026-04-18T08:57:02ZPFSPowers Reddit history - Glossary term
ARID1A / CHD8 / HDAC10
epigenetic
Chromatin-remodeling/epigenetic-regulator genes that Powers reports recurring across PFS patient genomes in his summit interview — offered as candidate genetic-susceptibility loci for post-drug syndromes, pending formal publication.
ARID1ACHD8HDAC10GL-arid1a-chd8-hdac10PFSCore corpus - Gene recordPowers’ theory
Core DNA-binding subunit of the mammalian SWI/SNF (BAF) chromatin-remodeling complex; uses an ARID domain to bind AT-rich DNA and targets the remodeling complex to chromatin, regulating transcription, DNA repair, and differentiation. Frequently mutated in…
ARARID1ACHD8HDAC10GENE-ARID1APFSCore corpus - Gene recordPowers’ theory
HDAC10 — histone deacetylase 10
22q13.33
Class IIb histone deacetylase that removes acetyl groups from lysine residues on core histones (and polyamines such as N8-acetylspermidine), producing a tag for epigenetic repression; acts in large multiprotein complexes to regulate transcription, cell-cycle…
ARARID1ACHD8HDAC10GENE-HDAC10PFSCore corpus - Gene recordPowers’ theory
Rate-limiting enzyme of folate metabolism that converts 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate to 5-methyltetrahydrofolate, the methyl donor for remethylating homocysteine to methionine and ultimately producing S-adenosylmethionine - the universal methyl donor for…
ARID1ACHD8HDAC10MTHFRGENE-MTHFRPFSCore corpus
Also in epigenetic regulation
All 130 genes- HDAC10Powers
histone deacetylase 10
chr 22· Epigenetic regulation· 11 records - ARID1APowers
AT-rich interaction domain 1A
chr 1· Epigenetic regulation· 10 records - CHD4
chromodomain helicase DNA binding protein 4
chr 12· Epigenetic regulation· 1 record - CHD5
chromodomain helicase DNA binding protein 5
chr 1· Epigenetic regulation· 1 record - CHD6
chromodomain helicase DNA binding protein 6
chr 20· Epigenetic regulation· 1 record - CHD7
chromodomain helicase DNA binding protein 7
chr 8· Epigenetic regulation· 1 record - CHD9
chromodomain helicase DNA binding protein 9
chr 16· Epigenetic regulation· 1 record - CREBBP
CREB binding lysine acetyltransferase
chr 16· Epigenetic regulation· 1 record
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