Histone

Gene

Cell biology

Methyltransferase

Biology

Epigenetics

Cartography

Chromatin remodeling

Regulation of gene expression

SWI/SNF

Polycomb-group proteins

Computational biology

Genetics

Chromatin

Geography

Methylation

Histone methyltransferase

Transcription factor

Repressor

Histone H3

Compass

Gene expression

Nature Reviews Genetics

The Trithorax group (TrxG) of proteins is a large family of epigenetic regulators that form multiprotein complexes to counteract repressive developmental gene expression programmes established by the Polycomb group of proteins and to promote and maintain an active state of gene expression. Recent studies are providing new insights into how two crucial families of the TrxG — the COMPASS family of histone H3 lysine 4 methyltransferases and the SWI/SNF family of chromatin remodelling complexes — regulate gene expression and developmental programmes, and how misregulation of their activities through genetic abnormalities leads to pathologies such as developmental disorders and malignancies. In this Review, Cenik and Shilatifard focus on two families of Trithorax group proteins: COMPASS histone H3 lysine 4 methyltransferase complexes and SWI/SNF chromatin remodelling complexes. They discuss the roles of these complexes in gene regulation, development and disease.

COMPASS and SWI/SNF complexes in development and disease