The multitalented TIP60 chromatin remodeling complex: wearing many hats in epigenetic regulation, cell division and diseases.

Abstract

The TIP60 complex is an evolutionarily conserved, multifunctional chromatin remodeling complex involved in critical cellular processes, including DNA repair, transcription regulation, and cell cycle control. Although its molecular organization and functions have been extensively studied, a comparative synthesis of its context-specific roles across evolutionarily distant species and pathological conditions is important to fully grasp its biological and clinical significance. In this review, we provide an integrative overview of the TIP60 complex, emphasizing its composition and conserved functions in Homo sapiens and Drosophila melanogaster, with comparative insights from plant systems. We explore how TIP60 complex dysregulation contributes to the molecular pathology of cancer and neurodevelopmental disorders, highlighting recent mechanistic insights. We also examine the emerging interplay between TIP60 complex subunits and long non-coding RNAs, which are increasingly recognized as pivotal regulators of genome accessibility and transcriptional programs. Finally, in this intriguing scenario, we highlight the non-canonical functions of the TIP60 complex in mitosis and cytokinesis, underscoring its moonlighting roles in maintaining genomic and cellular integrity, beyond its established contribution to epigenetic regulation. By connecting these diverse aspects, our review aims to provide an integrated perspective on the TIP60 complex and its expanding functional landscape in health and disease.