Evolutionary conserved SET domains were originally identified in three Drosophila proteins: suppressor of variegation (Su (var) 3-9), enhancer of zeste (E(z)), and the trithorax. Some of the SET-domain containing proteins have been known to elicit methylation of histone lysine residues. Based on a search for SET-domain containing proteins using bioinformatic tools, we identified and subsequently named a novel SET domain as WHISTLE, that has historic methyltransferase (HMTase) activity. To characterize WHISTLE, we performed an HMTase assay, mass spectrometric analysis, lysine specificity, and transfection assays. Mass spectrometric and immunoblot analysis revealed that WHISTLE di-methylates H3K4 and di-, and tri-methylates H3K27 of histories. Overexpression of WHISTLE repressed transcription of the SV40 promoter. Our results suggest that WHISTLE is a novel SET domain containing a protein with specific H3K4 and H3K27 HMTase activity. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.