A BAF-centred view of the immune system.
Chromatin structure dictates whether DNA templates are accessible to nuclear proteins; therefore, it is tightly regulated. To reconfigure chromatin, cells often mobilize 'chromatin-remodelling complexes' that use energy to disrupt histone-DNA contacts. BAF complexes, which are related to the yeast SWI-SNF complex, are the prototypical mammalian chromatin-remodelling complexes. In the past few years, studies have revealed the crucial and diverse roles of BAF complexes in the regulation of the immune system - from lymphocyte development to immune responses. This review surveys these advances, highlighting the general insights these studies provide into the modes of action of BAF complexes, and it concludes with a discussion of some of the key opportunities and challenges in this field.
Chi
Tian
T
Section of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA. tian.chi@yale.edu
D000818:Animals; D002843:Chromatin / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D006657:Histones / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000502:physiology*; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
D002843:Chromatin; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D006657:Histones; D014157:Transcription Factors