Featured Publications
Insights 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
2015
Single-molecule analysis of RAG-mediated V(D)J DNA cleavage
Lovely GA, Brewster RC, Schatz DG, Baltimore D, Phillips R. Single-molecule analysis of RAG-mediated V(D)J DNA cleavage. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2015, 112: e1715-e1723. PMID: 25831509, PMCID: PMC4394307, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1503477112.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRecombination signal sequencesSingle-molecule assaysSame DNA moleculeAntigen receptor genesConsensus recombination signal sequencesSingle-molecule analysisHigh mobility group box protein 1Individual molecular eventsSignal sequenceSingle-molecule levelGene productsDNA bindingMolecular eventsLymphocyte developmentDNA moleculesDNA cleavageProtein 1Synapse formationSynaptic complexReceptor geneCleavageRAGAssaysRAG1/2Complexes
2009
Structure of the RAG1 nonamer binding domain with DNA reveals a dimer that mediates DNA synapsis
Yin FF, Bailey S, Innis CA, Ciubotaru M, Kamtekar S, Steitz TA, Schatz DG. Structure of the RAG1 nonamer binding domain with DNA reveals a dimer that mediates DNA synapsis. Nature Structural & Molecular Biology 2009, 16: 499-508. PMID: 19396172, PMCID: PMC2715281, DOI: 10.1038/nsmb.1593.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAmino Acid MotifsAmino Acid SequenceAnimalsBase SequenceChromosome PairingCrystallography, X-RayDNAFluorescence Resonance Energy TransferHomeodomain ProteinsMiceModels, MolecularMolecular Sequence DataNucleic Acid ConformationProtein MultimerizationProtein Structure, QuaternaryProtein Structure, TertiarySolutionsStatic Electricity
2001
Identification of Basic Residues in RAG2 Critical for DNA Binding by the RAG1-RAG2 Complex
Fugmann S, Schatz D. Identification of Basic Residues in RAG2 Critical for DNA Binding by the RAG1-RAG2 Complex. Molecular Cell 2001, 8: 899-910. PMID: 11684024, DOI: 10.1016/s1097-2765(01)00352-5.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDNA bindingRAG2 proteinsCognate DNA target sequenceDNA target sequencesResidue mutantsMolecular roleBasic residuesDNA cleavageTarget sequenceRAG1Biochemical analysisRAG2BindingCentral roleProteinRecombinationResiduesDirect involvementEssential componentComplexesMutantsCleavage reactionIdentificationRoleSequence
1996
RAG1 Mediates Signal Sequence Recognition and Recruitment of RAG2 in V(D)J Recombination
Difilippantonio M, McMahan C, Eastman Q, Spanopoulou E, Schatz D. RAG1 Mediates Signal Sequence Recognition and Recruitment of RAG2 in V(D)J Recombination. Cell 1996, 87: 253-262. PMID: 8861909, DOI: 10.1016/s0092-8674(00)81343-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAmino Acid SequenceCell LineDNA NucleotidyltransferasesDNA-Binding ProteinsGenes, ImmunoglobulinHomeodomain ProteinsHumansMacromolecular SubstancesMolecular Sequence DataNuclear ProteinsProtein BindingProteinsRecombinant ProteinsRecombination, GeneticSalmonellaSequence AlignmentStructure-Activity RelationshipTranscriptional ActivationTransfectionConceptsDNA bindingAbsence of RAG2Signal sequence recognitionRegion of RAG1RAG2 proteinsBacterial invertasesSequence similarityRecombination signalsSpecific binding interactionsRAG1Sequence recognitionDNA cleavageRAG2Binding interactionsProteinBindingRecombinationRecent studiesSignal recognitionInvertaseHeptamerRecruitmentCleavageLocalizationVivo