title: Barrier-to-autointegration factor--a BAFfling little protein.
abstract: Barrier-to-autointegration factor (BAF) is an abundant, highly conserved, small and essential protein that binds to dsDNA, chromatin, nuclear lamina proteins, histones and various transcription factors. It was discovered as a cellular component of retrovirus pre-integration complex that inhibits their autointegration in vitro. BAF is also required for many cellular functions, including the higher-order organization of chromatin and the transcription of specific genes. Recent findings suggest further roles for BAF, including nuclear envelope assembly, regulating specific developmental processes and regulating retrovirus infectivity. At least some of these roles are controlled by phosphorylation of the BAF N-terminus by the vaccinia-related kinase. Here, we give an overview of recent advances in the field of BAF with special emphasis on evolution, interacting partners and functions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, The Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel.
authors.forename: Ayelet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Margalit
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brachner
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gotzmann
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Foisner
authors.forename: Yosef
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gruenbaum
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009685:Nuclear Envelope / Q000502:physiology; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D012190:Retroviridae / Q000502:physiology; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D016662:Virus Integration / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: C501959:BANF1 protein, human; C508180:BANF2 protein, human; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C516121:LEMD2 protein, human; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins