Featured Publications
Transposon molecular domestication and the evolution of the RAG recombinase
Zhang Y, Cheng TC, Huang G, Lu Q, Surleac MD, Mandell JD, Pontarotti P, Petrescu AJ, Xu A, Xiong Y, Schatz DG. Transposon molecular domestication and the evolution of the RAG recombinase. Nature 2019, 569: 79-84. PMID: 30971819, PMCID: PMC6494689, DOI: 10.1038/s41586-019-1093-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRAG1-RAG2 recombinaseMolecular domesticationRAG recombinaseCryo-electron microscopy structureTwo-tiered mechanismAmino acid residuesJawed vertebratesMicroscopy structureEvolutionary adaptationDNA substratesTransposition activityAcid residuesDomesticationDNA cleavageAcidic regionDiverse repertoireAdaptive immune systemRecombinaseTransposonCell receptorTransposasePivotal eventRecombinationCleavageVertebrates
2000
Identification of Two Catalytic Residues in RAG1 that Define a Single Active Site within the RAG1/RAG2 Protein Complex
Fugmann S, Villey I, Ptaszek L, Schatz D. Identification of Two Catalytic Residues in RAG1 that Define a Single Active Site within the RAG1/RAG2 Protein Complex. Molecular Cell 2000, 5: 97-107. PMID: 10678172, DOI: 10.1016/s1097-2765(00)80406-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsActive siteDivalent metal ionsSingle active siteMetal ionsTransfer reactionsActive site regionProtein complexesBond breakageCatalysisCatalytic functionRegion of RAG1Strand transfer reactionSecondary structure prediction algorithmsAspartic acid residuesCatalytic residuesRAG2 proteinsComplexesStructure prediction algorithmsPossible structural similaritySite regionAcid residuesRetroviral integrasesRAG1Structural similarityIons
1996
A Zinc-binding Domain Involved in the Dimerization of RAG1
Rodgers K, Bu Z, Fleming K, Schatz D, Engelman D, Coleman J. A Zinc-binding Domain Involved in the Dimerization of RAG1. Journal Of Molecular Biology 1996, 260: 70-84. PMID: 8676393, DOI: 10.1006/jmbi.1996.0382.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRecombination-activating gene 1Zinc-binding motifDimerization domainZinc fingerProtein-protein interactionsLymphoid-specific genesN-terminal thirdZinc finger sequencesAmino acid residuesC3HC4 motifRAG1 sequencesRAG1 proteinTerminal domainHomodimer formationAcid residuesBiophysical techniquesGene 1Energetics of associationMonomeric subunitsMotifProteinFinger sequencesSequenceC3HC4Zinc ions