Metastasis tumor antigens, an emerging family of multifaceted master coregulators

Regulation of fundamental genetic processes demands dynamic participation of transcription factors, their coregulators, and multiprotein chromatin remodeling activities at target genes. One family of chromatin modifiers that is ubiquitously expressed is the metastasis tumor antigens (MTA), which are integral parts of nucleosome remodeling and histone deacetylation (NuRD) complexes. MTA family members exist in distinct NuRD complexes, and functional redundancy is lacking among MTA family members. MTA proteins regulate divergent cellular pathways, including hormonal action, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitions, differentiation, protein stability and development, and cell fate programs by modifying the acetylation status of crucial target genes. Intriguingly, at least one member of this family, MTA1, itself undergoes acetylation and acts as a coactivator in certain contexts. We discuss the roles of the MTA family of chromatin modifiers, with an emphasis on their physiologic functions.