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The modulation of chromatin structure is an essential component in the regulation of transcriptional activation and repression. Modifications can be made by at least two evolutionarily conserved strategies, through the disruption of histone-DNA contacts by ATP-dependent chromatin remodelers, or by histone tail modifications including methylation and acetylation.

One of the four classes of ATP-dependent histone remodelers is the SWI/SNF complex, the central catalytic subunit of which is Brg1 or the highly related protein hBRM. This SWI/SNF complex contains  varying subunits but its association with either Brg1 or hBRM remains  constant . SWI/SNF complexes have been shown to regulate gene activation, cell growth, the cell cycle, and differentiation.

Brg1/hBRM have been shown to regulate transcription through enhancing  transcriptional activation of glucocorticoid receptors . Although  usually associated with transcriptional activation, Brg1/hBRM have also been found in complexes associated with transcriptional repression,   including HDACs, Rb, and Tif1β. Brg1/hBRM plays a vital role in  the regulation of gene transcription during early mammalian   embryogenesis. In addition, Brg1/hBRM also plays a role as a tumor  suppressor and Brg1 is mutated in several tumor cell lines.