A BAF-centred view of the immune system

Chromatin structure dictates whether DNA templates are accessible to nuclear proteins; therefore, it is tightly regulated. To reconfigure chromatin, cells often mobilize 'chromatin-remodelling complexes' that use energy to disrupt histone-DNA contacts. BAF complexes, which are related to the yeast SWI-SNF complex, are the prototypical mammalian chromatin-remodelling complexes. In the past few years, studies have revealed the crucial and diverse roles of BAF complexes in the regulation of the immune system - from lymphocyte development to immune responses. This review surveys these advances, highlighting the general insights these studies provide into the modes of action of BAF complexes, and it concludes with a discussion of some of the key opportunities and challenges in this field.