The HMGN family of chromatin-binding proteins: Dynamic modulators of epigenetic processes

The HMGN family of proteins binds to nucleosomes without any specificity for the underlying DNA sequence. They affect the global and local structure of chromatin, as well as the levels of histone modifications and thus play a role in epigenetic regulation of gene expression. This review focuses on the recent studies that provide new insights on the interactions between HMGN proteins, nucleosomes, and chromatin, and the effects of these interactions on epigenetic and transcriptional regulation. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Chromatin in time and space.

► HMGN proteins bind to nucleosomes and affect epigenetic processes.
► The mechanism of HMGN binding to the core particle has recently been elucidated.
► HMGN proteins affect global and local chromatin organization.
► Each HMGN variant affects transcription of a separate set of genes.