Concerted action of the PHD, chromo and motor domains regulates the human chromatin remodelling ATPase CHD4

► We dissect the roles of the individual domains of CHD4. ► The chromo domains bind DNA while the PHD domains modulate this activity. ► ATPase and chromo domains increase the histone tail binding affinity of PHD domains. ► PHD and chromo domains are required for DNA stimulated ATPase activity. ► SAXS shape reconstruction delineates intramolecular interactions between domains.