Chromatin Remodeling Complexes in Gene Regulation, Genome Stability, and Disease: Structural, Functional, and Systems-Level Insights

Chromatin remodeling complexes are central regulators of genome function, dynamically shaping chromatin accessibility, nucleosome positioning, and higher-order genome organization. By controlling how DNA is packaged and accessed, these ATP-dependent complexes influence transcription, DNA replication, DNA repair, recombination, and cell fate decisions across diverse biological systems. Over the past decade, major advances in structural biology, genomics, proteomics, and single-cell approaches have greatly expanded our understanding of the composition, regulation, and functional specificity of chromatin remodelers. At the same time, growing evidence has linked their dysregulation to a wide spectrum of human diseases, including cancer, developmental disorders, neurological conditions, and aging-associated pathologies.This Research Topic aims to bring together cutting-edge contributions that explore chromatin remodeling complexes from structural, mechanistic, functional, and systems-level perspectives. We welcome studies addressing the molecular architecture, assembly, and regulation of major remodeler families, including but not limited to SWI/SNF (BAF/PBAF/GBAF), ISWI, CHD, and INO80/SWR complexes. We are particularly interested in work that examines how these complexes interact with histone modifications, transcription factors, non-coding RNAs, DNA damage response pathways, and epigenomic landscapes to coordinate gene expression and preserve genome integrity.We also invite submissions investigating the role of chromatin remodeling complexes in development, differentiation, cellular plasticity, stress responses, and disease pathogenesis. Studies employing integrative and emerging approaches - such as cryo-EM, multi-omics, spatial genomics, single-cell profiling, computational modeling, and perturbation-based functional screens - are especially encouraged. By bridging molecular detail with organismal and disease relevance, this Research Topic seeks to provide a comprehensive view of how chromatin remodeling complexes operate in normal physiology and how their dysfunction contributes to pathological states.Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:• Structure, assembly, and subunit composition of chromatin remodeling complexes• Mechanisms of ATP-dependent nucleosome remodeling and chromatin accessibility control• Functional specificity and context-dependent activity of remodeler families• Interplay between chromatin remodelers and histone modifications, DNA methylation, or non-coding RNAs• Roles of remodelers in transcriptional regulation, enhancer function, and 3D genome organization• Chromatin remodeling in DNA replication, DNA repair, recombination, and genome stability• Remodeler function in stem cells, development, differentiation, and cell identity• Chromatin remodelers in cancer, neurodevelopmental disorders, and other human diseases• Systems-level and multi-omics studies of chromatin remodeling networks• Therapeutic targeting of chromatin remodeling pathways and epigenetic vulnerabilitiesThrough this collection, we hope to highlight emerging concepts, unresolved questions, and new technological opportunities in the study of chromatin remodeling, while fostering cross-disciplinary dialogue across epigenetics, genome biology, structural biology, and translational research. Topic editors: Gongyi Zhang, Gundeep Kaur Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/81151/chromatin-remodeling-complexes-in-gene-regulation-genome-stability-and-disease-structural-functional-and-systems-level-insights