The protein encoded by this gene is part of the large ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling complex SWI/SNF， which is required for transcriptional activation of genes normally repressed by chromatin. The encoded protein， either alone or when in the SWI/SNF complex， can bind to 4-way junction DNA， which is thought to mimic the topology of DNA as it enters or exits the nucleosome. The protein contains a DNA-binding HMG domain， but disruption of this domain does not abolish the DNA-binding or nucleosome-displacement activities of the SWI/SNF complex. Unlike most of the SWI/SNF complex proteins， this protein has no yeast counterpart.