Histone deacetylase 6 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the HDAC6 gene. HDAC6 belongs to class II of the histone deacetylase/acuc/apha family. It contains an internal duplication of two catalytic domains that appear to function independently of each other. This protein possesses histone deacetylase activity and represses transcription. Since HDAC6 is dysregulated and/or implicated in several cancers and neurodegenerative disorders, pharmacological inhibition of this specific enzyme holds great therapeutic potential and could also limit side effects associated with pan-inhibitors of multiple HDAC enzymes.