The SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex, which alters nucleosome positions by either evicting histones or sliding nucleosomes on DNA, is highly conserved from yeast to humans, and 20% of all human cancers have mutations in various subunits of the SWI/SNF complex. Here, we reported the crystal structure of the yeast Snf5-Swi3 subcomplex at a resolution of 2.65 Å. Our results showed that the Snf5-Swi3 subcomplex assembles into a heterotrimer with one Snf5 molecule bound to two distinct Swi3 molecules. In addition, we demonstrated that Snf5-Swi3 subcomplex formation is required for SWI/SNF function in yeast. These findings shed light on the important role of the Snf5-Swi3 subcomplex in the assembly and functional integrity of the SWI/SNF complex.
Keywords: BAF complex; Chromatin remodeling complex; SWI/SNF complex; Snf5-Swi3 subcomplex.
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