HMG1 and 2, and related 'architectural' DNA-binding proteins

The HMG-box proteins, one of the three classes of high mobility group (HMG) chromosomal proteins*, bend DNA and bind preferentially to distorted DNA structures. The proteins appear to act primarily as architectural facilitators in the assembly of nucleoprotein complexes; for example, in effecting recombination and in the initiation of transcription. HMG-box proteins might be targeted to particular DNA sites in chromatin by either protein-protein interactions or recognition of specific DNA structures.