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 stepStructural 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 immunityTransposon 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 eventRecombinationCleavageVertebratesStructures 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
2020
Sequence-dependent dynamics of synthetic and endogenous RSSs in V(D)J recombination
Hirokawa S, Chure G, Belliveau NM, Lovely GA, Anaya M, Schatz DG, Baltimore D, Phillips R. Sequence-dependent dynamics of synthetic and endogenous RSSs in V(D)J recombination. Nucleic Acids Research 2020, 48: gkaa418-. PMID: 32449932, PMCID: PMC7337519, DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa418.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2015
Chapter One Regulation and Evolution of the RAG Recombinase
Teng G, Schatz DG. Chapter One Regulation and Evolution of the RAG Recombinase. Advances In Immunology 2015, 128: 1-39. PMID: 26477364, DOI: 10.1016/bs.ai.2015.07.002.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRAG activityOverall genome integrityDNA breakageSpecific DNA motifsAntigen receptor lociDNA repair pathwaysChapter One RegulationAntigen receptor genesEarly lymphocyte developmentCell cycle statusGenome integrityChromatin structureRAG recombinaseRAG2 proteinsDNA motifsSpatial regulationWidespread bindingRepair pathwaysDNA cleavage activityRecombination eventsShuffling reactionEnzymatic potentialRAG endonucleaseReceptor locusLymphocyte development
2014
The RAG Recombinase Dictates Functional Heterogeneity and Cellular Fitness in Natural Killer Cells
Karo JM, Schatz DG, Sun JC. The RAG Recombinase Dictates Functional Heterogeneity and Cellular Fitness in Natural Killer Cells. Cell 2014, 159: 94-107. PMID: 25259923, PMCID: PMC4371485, DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2014.08.026.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRecombination-activating geneDNA damage response mediatorsInnate lymphoid cellsNatural killer cellsAntigen receptor genesCellular fitnessJawed vertebratesRAG recombinaseCellular stressInnate lymphocytesNovel functionDNA breaksKiller cellsEndonuclease activityUnexpected roleCleavage eventsAdaptive immune cellsReceptor geneReduced expressionGenesFunctional heterogeneityCellsImmune cellsResponse mediatorsFitness
2013
Higher-Order Looping and Nuclear Organization of Tcra Facilitate Targeted RAG Cleavage and Regulated Rearrangement in Recombination Centers
Chaumeil J, Micsinai M, Ntziachristos P, Deriano L, Wang J, Ji Y, Nora EP, Rodesch MJ, Jeddeloh JA, Aifantis I, Kluger Y, Schatz DG, Skok JA. Higher-Order Looping and Nuclear Organization of Tcra Facilitate Targeted RAG Cleavage and Regulated Rearrangement in Recombination Centers. Cell Reports 2013, 3: 359-370. PMID: 23416051, PMCID: PMC3664546, DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2013.01.024.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAllelesAnimalsAtaxia Telangiectasia Mutated ProteinsCell Cycle ProteinsCell NucleusDNA DamageDNA-Binding ProteinsGenetic LociGenomic InstabilityHistonesHomeodomain ProteinsMiceMice, Inbred C57BLMice, Inbred CBAMice, KnockoutProtein Serine-Threonine KinasesReceptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-betaTumor Suppressor ProteinsV(D)J RecombinationConceptsAntigen receptor lociRegulated rearrangementsGenome stabilityNuclear organizationRAG cleavageRAG recombinaseNuclear accessibilityRAG bindingCellular transformationΑ locusRecombination eventsReceptor locusDiverse arrayCell receptorLociLoop formationTight controlRegulationCleavageFocal bindingGenetic anomaliesBindingKey determinantRearrangementTranscription
2012
Localized epigenetic changes induced by DH recombination restricts recombinase to DJH junctions
Subrahmanyam R, Du H, Ivanova I, Chakraborty T, Ji Y, Zhang Y, Alt FW, Schatz DG, Sen R. Localized epigenetic changes induced by DH recombination restricts recombinase to DJH junctions. Nature Immunology 2012, 13: 1205-1212. PMID: 23104096, PMCID: PMC3685187, DOI: 10.1038/ni.2447.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsB-LymphocytesCell LineChromatinEpigenesis, GeneticGene Rearrangement, B-Lymphocyte, Heavy ChainGenes, Immunoglobulin Heavy ChainHistonesImmunoglobulin Heavy ChainsImmunoglobulin Joining RegionImmunoglobulin Variable RegionMicePrecursor Cells, B-LymphoidRecombinasesRecombination, GeneticA Dual Interaction between the DNA Damage Response Protein MDC1 and the RAG1 Subunit of the V(D)J Recombinase*
Coster G, Gold A, Chen D, Schatz DG, Goldberg M. A Dual Interaction between the DNA Damage Response Protein MDC1 and the RAG1 Subunit of the V(D)J Recombinase*. Journal Of Biological Chemistry 2012, 287: 36488-36498. PMID: 22942284, PMCID: PMC3476314, DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m112.402487.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdaptor Proteins, Signal TransducingAmino Acid MotifsBRCA1 ProteinCell Cycle ProteinsCell Line, TumorHistonesHomeodomain ProteinsHumansModels, BiologicalNuclear ProteinsPeptide MappingPhosphorylationProtein Structure, TertiaryRepetitive Sequences, Amino AcidTrans-ActivatorsVDJ RecombinasesConceptsDNA double-strand breaksDNA damage responseTandem BRCA1 C-terminal (BRCT) domainsC-terminusSpecific DNA double-strand breaksBRCA1 C-terminal domainC-terminal domainThreonine-rich repeatsDouble-strand breaksRAG1 subunitRAG recombinaseRAG2 proteinsDDR proteinsDamage responseRegulatory signalsBinding interfaceBreak siteHistone H2AXRAG activityRich repeatsNon-core regionsMDC1RAG1PhosphorylationSubsequent signal amplification