Composition and Function of Mammalian SWI/SNF Chromatin Remodeling Complexes in Human Disease

Mammalian SWI/SNF (BAF) chromatin remodeling complexes play critical roles in maintaining chromatin architecture and gene expression. Genomic sequencing efforts over the past several years have unveiled a major role for these complexes in the development of human cancer as well as neurologic disease, prompting the need to interrogate underlying mechanisms and to develop new methods to comprehensively understand mSWI/SNF complex function. Here we discuss the emerging insights from genetic, biochemical, and functional genomic studies in the field and suggest approaches toward further basic investigations, as well as therapeutic targeting of chromatin remodeling machinery.