Chromatin remodeling complexes: strength in diversity, precision through specialization

Abstract

Chromatin remodeling complexes all have an ATPase subunit important for nucleosome remodeling, but are diversified and specialized by additional associated proteins. Remodelers have well-established roles in a wide range of chromosomal processes, including transcriptional regulation and chromatin assembly. Recent work, however, has revealed remarkable new functions for remodelers, such as histone variant deposition, cohesin function, and RNA transcript elongation and termination. Remodeler complexes are tailored both compositionally and mechanistically to perform particular chromatin functions.