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The role of BAF (mSWI/SNF) complexes in mammalian neural development
Author(s) -
Son Esther Y.,
Crabtree Gerald R.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
american journal of medical genetics part c: seminars in medical genetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.419
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1552-4876
pISSN - 1552-4868
DOI - 10.1002/ajmg.c.31416
Subject(s) - microbiology and biotechnology , chromatin , neural stem cell , progenitor cell , biology , neural development , protein subunit , progenitor , chemistry , dna , biochemistry , stem cell , gene
The BAF (mammalian SWI/SNF) complexes are a family of multi‐subunit ATP‐dependent chromatin remodelers that use ATP hydrolysis to alter chromatin structure. Distinct BAF complex compositions are possible through combinatorial assembly of homologous subunit families and can serve non‐redundant functions. In mammalian neural development, developmental stage‐specific BAF assemblies are found in embryonic stem cells, neural progenitors and postmitotic neurons. In particular, the neural progenitor‐specific BAF complexes are essential for controlling the kinetics and mode of neural progenitor cell division, while neuronal BAF function is necessary for the maturation of postmitotic neuronal phenotypes as well as long‐term memory formation. The microRNA‐mediated mechanism for transitioning from npBAF to nBAF complexes is instructive for the neuronal fate and can even convert fibroblasts into neurons. The high frequency of BAF subunit mutations in neurological disorders underscores the rate‐determining role of BAF complexes in neural development, homeostasis, and plasticity. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.