SWI/SNF (Switch/Sucrose Non-Fermentable) proteins are a family of chromatin-remodelling complexes that play essential roles in modulating chromatin structure and gene expression. These complexes are highly conserved across eukaryotes and are involved in various DNA processes. SWI/SNF complexes are primarily responsible for nucleosome remodelling, i.e., the repositioning, eviction, or alteration of nucleosomes along DNA. SWI/SNF complexes use the energy derived from ATP hydrolysis to disrupt histone-DNA interactions and slide or eject nucleosomes. By changing the positioning of nucleosomes, these complexes can create accessibility of other factors to DNA, for example making it available for binding of transcription factors or other regulatory proteins. Thus, one of the primary roles of SWI/SNF complexes is to facilitate transcriptional activation by promoting an open chromatin structure. In addition, SWI/SNF complexes interact themselves with transcription factors and RNA polymerase II to remodel chromatin at gene promoters. They therefore act to generally facilitate the binding of transcriptional activators to their target sites and enhance the recruitment of the transcriptional machinery, ultimately leading to gene expression changes. SWI/SNF complexes also act as chromatin barrier proteins by creating boundaries between different chromatin domains and preventing the inappropriate spread of epigenetic marks. Boundary elements, such as insulator-like structures, demarcate regions with distinct chromatin states. By doing so, SWI/SNF complexes help maintain the integrity of functional genomic regions and prevent the inappropriate activation or silencing of nearby genes. SWI/SNF complexes are involved in DNA repair and recombination processes by creating access to damaged DNA sites or promoting homologous recombination. SWI/SNF complexes are recruited to DNA double-strand break sites, where they assist in the recruitment of DNA repair factors promoting the formation of repair foci. They also facilitate homologous recombination by repositioning nucleosomes to allow for DNA strand exchange. SWI/SNF complexes are important for embryonic development and lineage specification by regulating the expression of genes that determine cell fate. SWI/SNF complexes can create open chromatin environments at critical regulatory regions, allowing for the precise control of gene expression. In skeletal muscle differentiation, the transcription factor MyoD regulates myogenesis. SWI/SNF complexes help activate MyoD by remodelling chromatin at its target genes, evicting nucleosomes from the MyoD promoter, and allowing for the binding of transcription factors and RNA polymerase, leading to muscle-specific gene expression. In addition, SWI/SNF complexes play a role in T-cell lineage commitment by regulating the expression of key transcription factors like GATA3 and TCF-1. These complexes help create the appropriate chromatin landscape for T-cell-specific gene expression, crucial for T-cell development. SWI/SNF complexes can also act as tumour suppressors by regulating the expression of genes involved in proliferation. Mutations or dysregulation of SWI/SNF components have been implicated in various cancers. When SWI/SNF complexes are disrupted, aberrant gene expression patterns can emerge, contributing to uncontrolled cell division and tumorigenesis. For example, in ovarian clear cell carcinomas mutations in the ARID1A gene, a component of the SWI/SNF complex, disrupt the normal function of the SWI/SNF complex and contribute to the development of this type of ovarian cancer. We provide a wide product range of research reagents for investigating SWI and SNF proteins, including BRG1 antibodies, ATRX antibodies, SNF5 antibodies, CHD2 antibodies, and SMRC2 antibodies. Explore our full SWI and SNF proteins product range below and discover more, for less.