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 stepInsights into RAG Evolution from the Identification of “Missing Link” Family A RAGL Transposons
Martin E, Le Targa L, Tsakou-Ngouafo L, Fan T, Lin C, Xiao J, Huang Z, Yuan S, Xu A, Su Y, Petrescu A, Pontarotti P, Schatz D. Insights into RAG Evolution from the Identification of “Missing Link” Family A RAGL Transposons. Molecular Biology And Evolution 2023, 40: msad232. PMID: 37850912, PMCID: PMC10629977, DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msad232.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsJawed vertebratesTransposon familyRAG1-RAG2 recombinaseRecombination signal sequencesHemichordate Ptychodera flavaMolecular domesticationSignal sequenceP. flavaDNA bindingPtychodera flavaSequence featuresTransposition activityVertebratesTransposonCritical enzymeHinge regionGenomeDomesticationFlavaProteinPivotal stepAdaptive immunityCritical intermediateRAGRAGLStructural insights into the evolution of the RAG recombinase
Liu C, Zhang Y, Liu CC, Schatz DG. Structural insights into the evolution of the RAG recombinase. Nature Reviews Immunology 2021, 22: 353-370. PMID: 34675378, DOI: 10.1038/s41577-021-00628-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRAG recombinaseComparative genome analysisGenomes of eukaryotesProtein-DNA complexesSingle amino acid mutationAntigen receptor genesMolecular domesticationRag familyAmino acid mutationsJawed vertebratesVertebrate immunityTransposable elementsEvolutionary adaptationGenome analysisStructural biologyDNA bindingStructural insightsGene 1Acid mutationsCleavage activityRecombinaseReceptor geneStructural evidenceRecombinationAdaptive immunity
2016
Discovery of an Active RAG Transposon Illuminates the Origins of V(D)J Recombination
Huang S, Tao X, Yuan S, Zhang Y, Li P, Beilinson HA, Zhang Y, Yu W, Pontarotti P, Escriva H, Le Petillon Y, Liu X, Chen S, Schatz DG, Xu A. Discovery of an Active RAG Transposon Illuminates the Origins of V(D)J Recombination. Cell 2016, 166: 102-114. PMID: 27293192, PMCID: PMC5017859, DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2016.05.032.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRAG transposonAntigen receptor gene assemblyBasal extant chordateDNA transposon familiesVertebrate adaptive immunityRecombination signal sequencesExtant chordatesTarget site duplicationsTransposable elementsDNA recombinationSignal sequenceTransposon excisionGene assemblyProtoRAGTransposon familySite duplicationsCrucial eventTransposonRecombinationAdaptive immunityChordatesTIRLanceletsRAG1/2GermlineCollaboration of RAG2 with RAG1-like proteins during the evolution of V(D)J recombination
Carmona LM, Fugmann SD, Schatz DG. Collaboration of RAG2 with RAG1-like proteins during the evolution of V(D)J recombination. Genes & Development 2016, 30: 909-917. PMID: 27056670, PMCID: PMC4840297, DOI: 10.1101/gad.278432.116.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRecombination-activating gene 1Transib transposaseAbsence of RAG2RAG1/RAG2Antigen receptor genesJawed vertebratesRAG2 proteinsTransposable elementsRAG1 proteinRegulatory featuresDNA substratesGene 1RAG2Receptor geneRecombination activityProteinRecombinationTransposaseAdaptive immunityVertebratesTransposonGenesEvolutionLow levelsOrigin
2007
DNA deaminases converge on adaptive immunity
Schatz DG. DNA deaminases converge on adaptive immunity. Nature Immunology 2007, 8: 551-553. PMID: 17514205, DOI: 10.1038/ni0607-551.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2005
Biochemistry of V(D)J Recombination
Schatz DG, Spanopoulou E. Biochemistry of V(D)J Recombination. Current Topics In Microbiology And Immunology 2005, 290: 49-85. PMID: 16480039, DOI: 10.1007/3-540-26363-2_4.Peer-Reviewed Original Research