Multiple SWItches to turn on chromatin?

Abstract

The SWI/SNF complex is a highly conserved multisubunit assembly that facilitates the function of gene-specific transcriptional regulatory proteins by antagonizing chromatin-mediated transcriptional repression. Recent studies have suggested the existence of multiple functionally distinct SWI/SNF-like complexes. One possibility is that different chromatin remodeling systems are targeted to different gene sets or, alternatively, that they may remodel chromatin structure to facilitate cellular processes other than transcription, such as recombination or DNA repair.