title: The dynamics of HMG protein-chromatin interactions in living cells.
abstract: The dynamic interaction between nuclear proteins and chromatin leads to the functional plasticity necessary to mount adequate responses to regulatory signals. Here, we review the factors regulating the chromatin interactions of the high mobility group proteins (HMGs), an abundant and ubiquitous superfamily of chromatin-binding proteins in living cells. HMGs are highly mobile and interact with the chromatin fiber in a highly dynamic fashion, as part of a protein network. The major factors that affect the binding of HMGs to chromatin are operative at the level of the single nucleosome. These factors include structural features of the HMGs, competition with other chromatin-binding proteins for nucleosome binding sites, complex formation with protein partners, and post-translational modifications in the protein or in the chromatin-binding sites. The versatile modulation of the interaction between HMG proteins and chromatin plays a role in processes that establish the cellular phenotype.
authors.affiliation: Protein Section, Laboratory of Metabolism, National Cancer Institute, US National Institute of Health, 37 Convent Drive, Bldg. 37, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
authors.forename: Gabi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gerlitz
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hock
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bustin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival; D002843:Chromatin / Q000378:metabolism*; D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D011485:Protein Binding
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin; D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins