Chromatin‐associated HMG1, HMGI/Y and SSRP1 proteins of higher plants

Many DNA transactions such as transcription and recombination are regulated by the formation of specific higher‐order nucleoprotein structures. Multiple protein/DNA and protein/protein interactions act synergistically to provide the precision required for the regulation of these processes. The assembly of the nucleoprotein complexes often requires that the DNA is specifically folded by DNA‐bending proteins. In plants, various chromatin‐associated high mobility group (HMG) proteins of the HMG1 and HMGI/Y families have been identified which have the potential to act as architectural factors that modulate DNA structure. In addition, by protein/protein‐contacts these proteins assist the binding of regulatory factors to their cognate DNA sites. Therefore, the HMG1 and HMGI/Y proteins might be involved as architectural factors in the regulation of various biological processes.