This family includes scaffold attachment factor B (SAFB1 and SAFB2) and SAFB-like transcription modulator (SLTM). SAFB proteins bind to scaffold/matrix attachment region (S/MAR) DNA and form a molecular assembly point to allow the formation of a 'transcriptosomal' complex, which consists of SR proteins and RNA polymerase II, coupling transcription and RNA processing []. They also function as estrogen receptor corepressors and negative regulators of cell proliferation []. SLTM acts as a general inhibitor of transcription that eventually leads to apoptosis when overexpressed []. The Caenorhabditis elegans homologue, phm-2, is involved in pharyngeal muscle development, ensures pharyngeal grinder function during feeding, and plays a role in defense against pathogenic bacteria and lifespan determination [, , ]. Members of this family typically contain an N-terminal SAP domain and a central nucleotide-binding ��-�� plait domain .
