Abstract: High mobility group N (HMGN), one member of the high mobility group superfamily, is expressed ubiquitously in living cells. HMGN can bind directly to nucleosomes and modulate the structure of the chromatin fiber, which affect the cellular transcription profile and cellular differentiation and the ability to repair damaged DNA. The occurence of tumor is closely related to the abnormal transcription caused by accumulation of mutations. Abnormal transcription can prompt the tumor cells to escape from the tight regulation of cell cycle progression. Studies show that HMGN plays an important role in cancer progression by involving in the regulation of tumor cell cycle and affecting the biological behavior of tumor cells.

Key words: HMGN proteins, Neoplasms, Cell cycle, Alarmins