# DPF2 reads histone lactylation to drive transcription and tumorigenesis

*PRI Rank #14 · Topics and Trends in Most Cited Epigenetics and DNA Methylation Papers, Class of 2026*

*Canonical URL: https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/epigenetics-and-dna-methylation/2026/rank-14*

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Rank | #14 |
| 18m citations | 81 |
| Journal | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences |
| Year | 2024 |
| DOI | 10.1073/pnas.2421496121 |
| Corresponding authors | Guijin Zhai, Ziping Niu, Zixin Jiang, Kai Zhang |
| Institution | Tianjin Medical University, China |

**Ranking page:** [Topics and Trends in Most Cited Epigenetics and DNA Methylation Papers, Class of 2026](https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/epigenetics-and-dna-methylation/2026)

**Paper link:** [10.1073/pnas.2421496121](https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2421496121)

## Topics

lysine lactylation · H3K14la · histone lactylation · DPF2 · cervical cancer · lactate accumulation · Metabolic reprogramming · multivalent photoaffinity probe · quantitative proteomics · Epigenetic reader · CUT&Tag · oncogenic gene transcription · structure-guided mutation · DPF2-H3K14la interaction · Epigenetic reader · Epigenetic reader · transcriptional regulation · cell survival

## Cite this ranking

```
Pepkio Research Index (PRI). Topics and Trends in Most Cited Epigenetics and DNA Methylation Papers, Class of 2026. https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/epigenetics-and-dna-methylation/2026. Accessed 2026-07-21.

Zheng Su, Tinsley Li, Thematic Shifts in Early-High-Impact Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics Research: A Bibliometric and Semantic Analysis. bioRxiv 2026.07.04.736459; doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.07.04.736459
```