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Structural and functional characterisation and regulatory mechanisms of SWI/SNF and RSC chromatin remodelling complexes in fungi

Summary

This review examines special protein complexes called SWI/SNF and RSC that help fungi control their genes by rearranging DNA packaging. These complexes are important for fungal survival under stress and for causing disease. The researchers compared these complexes across different fungal species and found both similarities and differences that could help scientists develop new antifungal medicines.

Background

Chromatin remodellers utilize ATP hydrolysis energy to remodel nucleosomes and modulate histones, which are crucial for eukaryotic gene expression and chromatin architecture. The SWI/SNF and RSC chromatin remodelling complexes are ATP-dependent chromatin modifiers first discovered in Saccharomyces cerevisiae that have been extensively studied in various organisms including animals, plants, and fungi.

Objective

This review focuses on the structural properties, conserved domains, functional mechanisms, and evolutionary divergence of SWI/SNF and RSC chromatin remodelling complexes across taxonomically diverse fungi, with emphasis on their roles in hyphal differentiation, sporulation, stress responses, and pathogenicity.

Results

The analysis revealed that SWI/SNF and RSC complexes contain 12-16 conserved subunits organized into motor, ARP, and substrate recruitment modules, with sequence and functional divergence across fungal species. These complexes regulate mycelial morphogenesis, multiple stress responses, cell cycle progression, and metabolic balance, with species-specific functional variations.

Conclusion

The review provides a comprehensive foundation for understanding SWI/SNF and RSC complex functions across diverse fungi, revealing both conserved mechanisms and species-specific divergence that could guide future research on fungal pathogenicity control and development of antifungal drug targets.
  • Published in:Mycology,
  • Study Type:Review,
  • Source: PMID: 40937128, DOI: 10.1080/21501203.2024.2425170
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