Featured Publications
Structural basis for the activation and suppression of transposition during evolution of the RAG recombinase
Zhang Y, Corbett E, Wu S, Schatz DG. Structural basis for the activation and suppression of transposition during evolution of the RAG recombinase. The EMBO Journal 2020, 39: embj2020105857. PMID: 32945578, PMCID: PMC7604617, DOI: 10.15252/embj.2020105857.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTarget site DNASite DNARAG1/RAG2 recombinaseSuppression of transpositionCryo-electron microscopyStrand transfer complexAntigen receptor genesDomesticated transposaseTarget DNARAG recombinaseEvolutionary adaptationPaste transpositionStructural basisTransposition activityMechanistic principlesFunctional assaysTransposon endDNAReceptor geneBase unstackingDomesticationTransposaseRecombinaseAdaptive immunityFinal stepStructures of a RAG-like transposase during cut-and-paste transposition
Liu C, Yang Y, Schatz DG. Structures of a RAG-like transposase during cut-and-paste transposition. Nature 2019, 575: 540-544. PMID: 31723264, PMCID: PMC6872938, DOI: 10.1038/s41586-019-1753-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCryo-electron microscopy structureC-terminal tailUnique structural elementsStrand transfer complexEukaryotic cutEvolutionary progenitorsMicroscopy structureRAG recombinasePaste transpositionApo enzymeSubstrate DNAHelicoverpa zeaConformational changesEarly stepsTransposaseAdaptive immune systemDNATarget siteTransposonTarget DNAPivotal roleActive siteEnzymeTransposition processEssential component
2003
Regulation of RAG1/RAG2‐mediated transposition by GTP and the C‐terminal region of RAG2
Tsai C, Schatz DG. Regulation of RAG1/RAG2‐mediated transposition by GTP and the C‐terminal region of RAG2. The EMBO Journal 2003, 22: 1922-1930. PMID: 12682024, PMCID: PMC154477, DOI: 10.1093/emboj/cdg185.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsFull-length RAG2RAG2 proteinsRegulatory mechanismsC-terminal regionRAG proteinsHybrid joint formationDNA recognitionDNA transpositionCleavage functionChromosomal translocationsGTPUnknown mechanismRAG2ProteinTarget DNAPhysiological concentrationsRegulationJoint formationRAGRAG1MechanismTranslocationDNAGuanineTransposition
1998
Transposition mediated by RAG1 and RAG2 and its implications for the evolution of the immune system
Agrawal A, Eastman Q, Schatz D. Transposition mediated by RAG1 and RAG2 and its implications for the evolution of the immune system. Nature 1998, 394: 744-751. PMID: 9723614, DOI: 10.1038/29457.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAmino Acid SequenceAnimalsAntibodiesBinding SitesB-LymphocytesCatalysisCell LineDNADNA Transposable ElementsDNA, CircularDNA-Binding ProteinsDrug Resistance, MicrobialEvolution, MolecularGene Rearrangement, B-LymphocyteGene Rearrangement, T-LymphocyteHigh Mobility Group ProteinsHomeodomain ProteinsImmune SystemMiceMolecular Sequence DataReceptors, Antigen, T-CellRecombination, GeneticRestriction MappingTransposasesVertebratesConceptsT-cell receptor genesRecombination signalsSequence-specific DNA recognitionAncestral receptor geneComponent gene segmentsSite-specific recombination reactionPiece of DNAEvolutionary divergenceJawless vertebratesRecombination-activating geneTransposable elementsDNA recognitionRetroviral integrationGermline insertionDNA moleculesGenesShort duplicationsDNA cleavageRAG1Gene segmentsTransposition reactionRAG2Receptor geneTarget DNA moleculesTarget DNA