The proto-oncoprotein SYT interacts with SYT-interacting protein/co-activator activator (SIP/CoAA), a human nuclear receptor co-activator with similarity to EWS and TLS/FUS family of proteins.

The proto-oncoprotein SYT is involved in the unique translocation t(X;18) found in synovial sarcoma SYT-SSX fusions. SYT has a conserved N-terminal domain (SNH domain) that interacts with the human paralog of Drosophila Brahma (hBRM) and Brahma-related gene 1 (BRG1) chromatin remodeling proteins and a C-terminal transactivating sequence rich in glutamine, proline, glycine, and tyrosine (QPGY domain). Here we reported the isolation of the ribonucleoprotein SYT-interacting protein/co-activator activator (SIP/CoAA), which specifically binds the QPGY domain of SYT and also the SYT-SSX2 translocation fusion.

Crystal structure of the proximal BAH domain of the polybromo protein.

The BAH domain (bromo-associated homology domain) was first identified from a repeated motif found in the nuclear protein polybromo--a large (187 kDa) modular protein comprising six bromodomains, two BAH domains and an HMG box. To date, the BAH domain has no ascribed function, although it is found in a wide range of proteins that contain additional domains involved in either transcriptional regulation (e.g.

Conserved SNH domain of the proto-oncoprotein SYT interacts with components of the human chromatin remodelling complexes, while the QPGY repeat domain forms homo-oligomers.

Many studies have now established that the SWI/SNF chromatin remodelling complexes are involved in activation and repression of a variety of genes. In mammalian cells, these complexes contain the BRM and BRG1 helicase-like proteins that are thought to be responsible for nucleosome remodelling. The proto-oncoprotein SYT, involved in the unique translocation t(X;18) found in synovial sarcoma, is known to interact with human BRM (hBRM), thus providing a link between chromatin remodelling factors and human cancer.