Core component of the BAF (SWI/SNF) complex. This ATP-dependent chromatin-remodeling complex plays important roles in cell proliferation and differentiation, in cellular antiviral activities and inhibition of tumor formation. The BAF complex is able to create a stable, altered form of chromatin that constrains fewer negative supercoils than normal. This change in supercoiling would be due to the conversion of up to one-half of the nucleosomes on polynucleosomal arrays into asymmetric structures, termed altosomes, each composed of 2 histones octamers. Stimulates in vitro the remodeling activity of SMARCA4/BRG1/BAF190A. Plays a key role in cell-cycle control and causes cell cycle arrest in G0/G1. Belongs to the neural progenitors-specific chromatin remodeling complex (npBAF complex) and the neuron-specific chromatin remodeling complex (nBAF complex). During neural development a switch from a stem/progenitor to a postmitotic chromatin remodeling mechanism occurs as neurons exit the cell cycle and become committed to their adult state. The transition from proliferating neural stem/progenitor cells to postmitotic neurons requires a switch in subunit composition of the npBAF and nBAF complexes. As neural progenitors exit mitosis and differentiate into neurons, npBAF complexes which contain ACTL6A/BAF53A and PHF10/BAF45A, are exchanged for homologous alternative ACTL6B/BAF53B and DPF1/BAF45B or DPF3/BAF45C subunits in neuron-specific complexes (nBAF). The npBAF complex is essential for the self-renewal/proliferative capacity of the multipotent neural stem cells. The nBAF complex along with CREST plays a role regulating the activity of genes essential for dendrite growth (By similarity). Component of the multiprotein chromatin-remodeling complexes SWI/SNF: SWI/SNF-A (BAF), SWI/SNF-B (PBAF) and related complexes. The canonical complex contains a catalytic subunit (either SMARCA4/BRG1/BAF190A or SMARCA2/BRM/BAF190B) and at least SMARCE1, ACTL6A/BAF53, SMARCC1/BAF155, SMARCC2/BAF170, and SMARCB1/SNF5/BAF47. Other subunits specific to each of the complexes may also be present permitting several possible combinations developmentally and tissue specific (By similarity). Component of the BAF complex, which includes at least actin (ACTB), ARID1A/BAF250A, ARID1B/BAF250B, SMARCA2/BRM, SMARCA4/BRG1/BAF190A, ACTL6A/BAF53, ACTL6B/BAF53B, SMARCE1/BAF57 SMARCC1/BAF155, SMARCC2/BAF170, SMARCB1/SNF5/INI1, and one or more SMARCD1/BAF60A, SMARCD2/BAF60B, or SMARCD3/BAF60C. In muscle cells, the BAF complex also contains DPF3 (By similarity). Component of neural progenitors-specific chromatin remodeling complex (npBAF complex) composed of at least, ARID1A/BAF250A or ARID1B/BAF250B, SMARCD1/BAF60A, SMARCD3/BAF60C, SMARCA2/BRM/BAF190B, SMARCA4/BRG1/BAF190A, SMARCB1/BAF47, SMARCC1/BAF155, SMARCE1/BAF57, SMARCC2/BAF170, PHF10/BAF45A, ACTL6A/BAF53A and actin. Component of neuron-specific chromatin remodeling complex (nBAF complex) composed of at least, ARID1A/BAF250A or ARID1B/BAF250B, SMARCD1/BAF60A, SMARCD3/BAF60C, SMARCA2/BRM/BAF190B, SMARCA4/BRG1/BAF190A, SMARCB1/BAF47, SMARCC1/BAF155, SMARCE1/BAF57, SMARCC2/BAF170, DPF1/BAF45B, DPF3/BAF45C, ACTL6B/BAF53B and actin (By similarity). Component of the SWI/SNF-B (PBAF) chromatin remodeling complex, at least composed of SMARCA4/BRG1, SMARCB1/BAF47/SNF5, ACTL6A/BAF53A or ACTL6B/BAF53B, SMARCE1/BAF57, SMARCD1/BAF60A, SMARCD2/BAF60B, perhaps SMARCD3/BAF60C, SMARCC1/BAF155, SMARCC2/BAF170, PBRM1/BAF180, ARID2/BAF200 and actin. Binds to double-stranded DNA. Interacts with CEBPB (when not methylated). Interacts with PIH1D1. Interacts with MYK and MAEL. Interacts with PPP1R15A (By similarity). Interacts with DPF2 (By similarity). Interacts with YWHAZ (By similarity). Interacts with ERCC6 (By similarity). Interacts with FOS, FOSB, FOSL1 and FOSL2 (By similarity). The N-terminal DNA-binding region is structurally similar to winged helix domains. Belongs to the SNF5 family.