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 intermediateRAGRAGLTransposon 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