Featured Publications
Structural 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 eventRecombinationCleavageVertebrates
2024
RORγt up-regulates RAG gene expression in DP thymocytes to expand the Tcra repertoire
Naik A, Dauphars D, Corbett E, Simpson L, Schatz D, Krangel M. RORγt up-regulates RAG gene expression in DP thymocytes to expand the Tcra repertoire. Science Immunology 2024, 9: eadh5318. PMID: 38489350, PMCID: PMC11005092, DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.adh5318.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRecombination activating geneDP thymocytesUp-regulatedAntigen receptor lociDouble-positive (DP) stageRAG expressionTranscriptional up-regulationDouble-negative (DNRAG gene expressionActive genesTcra repertoireReceptor locusDN thymocytesGene expressionThymocyte transitionLymphocyte developmentThymocyte proliferationPhysiological importanceMultiple pathwaysRORgtThymocytesExpressionRepertoireRecombinationAntisilencing
2021
RAG2 abolishes RAG1 aggregation to facilitate V(D)J recombination
Gan T, Wang Y, Liu Y, Schatz DG, Hu J. RAG2 abolishes RAG1 aggregation to facilitate V(D)J recombination. Cell Reports 2021, 37: 109824. PMID: 34644584, PMCID: PMC8783374, DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109824.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA) activity is required for V(D)J recombination
Chen CC, Chen BR, Wang Y, Curman P, Beilinson HA, Brecht RM, Liu CC, Farrell RJ, de Juan-Sanz J, Charbonnier LM, Kajimura S, Ryan TA, Schatz DG, Chatila TA, Wikstrom JD, Tyler JK, Sleckman BP. Sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA) activity is required for V(D)J recombination. Journal Of Experimental Medicine 2021, 218: e20201708. PMID: 34033676, PMCID: PMC8155808, DOI: 10.1084/jem.20201708.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRAG2 gene expressionSarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2Gene expressionEndoplasmic reticulum Ca2ER Ca2ER transmembrane proteinExpression of SERCA3Mature B cellsER lumenCytosolic Ca2Transmembrane proteinCRISPR/PreB cellsDNA cleavageB cellsReticulum Ca2SERCA proteinATPase activityProteinProfound blockATP2A2 mutationsRAG1Recombination
2019
Intra-Vκ Cluster Recombination Shapes the Ig Kappa Locus Repertoire
Shinoda K, Maman Y, Canela A, Schatz DG, Livak F, Nussenzweig A. Intra-Vκ Cluster Recombination Shapes the Ig Kappa Locus Repertoire. Cell Reports 2019, 29: 4471-4481.e6. PMID: 31875554, PMCID: PMC8214342, DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.11.088.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDNA double-strand breaksRecombination signal sequencesVκ gene segmentsGene segmentsDouble-strand breaksVariable gene segmentsRAG proteinsSignal sequenceV-J rearrangementRecombination eventsSpacer regionVκ-JκRecombinationLevels of breakageComplete absenceProteinLarge fractionDeletionJκSequence
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 levelsOriginThe Role of RAG in V(D)J Recombination
Carmona L, Schatz D. The Role of RAG in V(D)J Recombination. 2016, 99-106. DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-374279-7.05012-8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchRecombination signal sequencesTransposable elementsCell cycle-dependent mannerAntigen receptor gene segmentsLymphoid-specific proteinsDNA cleavageCycle-dependent mannerReceptor gene segmentsRAG cleavageRAG proteinsTranslational regulationPosttranslational modificationsSignal sequenceNonhomologous endRAG activitySequence elementsEnhancer elementsTransposition mechanismCell cycleLymphocyte developmentGene segmentsPair of hairpinsBlunt endsRecombinationRAG2
2015
Recruitment of RAG1 and RAG2 to Chromatinized DNA during V(D)J Recombination
Shetty K, Schatz DG. Recruitment of RAG1 and RAG2 to Chromatinized DNA during V(D)J Recombination. Molecular And Cellular Biology 2015, 35: 3701-3713. PMID: 26303526, PMCID: PMC4589606, DOI: 10.1128/mcb.00219-15.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsConserved heptamerRAG2 proteinsChromatin immunoprecipitationNonamer elementsRecombination substratesSignal sequenceNonamer sequencesMutant formsCryptic RSSsRAG1DNA cleavageGene segmentsChromatinCell linesRAG2ProteinRecruitmentRecombinationSequenceMajor roleMutagenesisImmunoprecipitationRepeatsRSSsRAGChromosomal Loop Domains Direct the Recombination of Antigen Receptor Genes
Hu J, Zhang Y, Zhao L, Frock RL, Du Z, Meyers RM, Meng FL, Schatz DG, Alt FW. Chromosomal Loop Domains Direct the Recombination of Antigen Receptor Genes. Cell 2015, 163: 947-959. PMID: 26593423, PMCID: PMC4660266, DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2015.10.016.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsCCCTC-Binding FactorChromosomes, MammalianDNA-Binding ProteinsGenes, mycGenomeHigh-Throughput Nucleotide SequencingHomeodomain ProteinsHumansImmunoglobulin Heavy ChainsLymphomaMiceNucleotide MotifsRegulatory Sequences, Nucleic AcidRepressor ProteinsSequence Analysis, DNATranslocation, GeneticV(D)J RecombinationConceptsRecombination signal sequencesRSS pairAntigen receptor genesSignal sequenceRAG activityDNA breaksChromosomal loopsLoop domainBiological processesConvergent CTCFChromosomal translocationsCleavage siteReceptor geneTarget activitySuch breaksMarked orientation dependenceRecombinationRAGCTCFChromatinMegabasesOff-target distributionGenesBreaksDomainHistone reader BRWD1 targets and restricts recombination to the Igk locus
Mandal M, Hamel KM, Maienschein-Cline M, Tanaka A, Teng G, Tuteja JH, Bunker JJ, Bahroos N, Eppig JJ, Schatz DG, Clark MR. Histone reader BRWD1 targets and restricts recombination to the Igk locus. Nature Immunology 2015, 16: 1094-1103. PMID: 26301565, PMCID: PMC4575638, DOI: 10.1038/ni.3249.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchRAG Represents a Widespread Threat to the Lymphocyte Genome
Teng G, Maman Y, Resch W, Kim M, Yamane A, Qian J, Kieffer-Kwon KR, Mandal M, Ji Y, Meffre E, Clark MR, Cowell LG, Casellas R, Schatz DG. RAG Represents a Widespread Threat to the Lymphocyte Genome. Cell 2015, 162: 751-765. PMID: 26234156, PMCID: PMC4537821, DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2015.07.009.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRecombination signalsStrong recombination signalGenome stabilityHuman genomeActive promotersGenomeDNA damageChromosomal translocationsCleavage siteWidespread threatRAG1Lymphocyte genomeEvolutionary struggleRecombinationRAGChromatinPromoterEndonucleaseSitesRAG2TranslocationAbundanceDepletionEnhancerHeptamerChapter 2 The Mechanism of V(D)J Recombination
Little A, Matthews A, Oettinger M, Roth D, Schatz D. Chapter 2 The Mechanism of V(D)J Recombination. 2015, 13-34. DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-397933-9.00002-3.ChaptersLymphocyte developmentNonhomologous end-joining pathwayRegulation of recombinationAntigen receptor lociEnd-joining pathwayDNA repair proteinsRecombination-activating gene 1RAG proteinsDNA breaksRecombinase machineryFunctional antigen receptorEnd processingReceptor locusGenetic instabilityGene 1Recombinase activityChromosomal translocationsDNA cleavageProtein 1Diverse repertoireRepair stepsBox protein 1Antigen receptorHigh mobility group box protein 1Recombination
2014
Induction of homologous recombination between sequence repeats by the activation induced cytidine deaminase (AID) protein
Buerstedde JM, Lowndes N, Schatz DG. Induction of homologous recombination between sequence repeats by the activation induced cytidine deaminase (AID) protein. ELife 2014, 3: e03110. PMID: 25006166, PMCID: PMC4080448, DOI: 10.7554/elife.03110.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsB-LymphocytesBase SequenceCell LineChickensCrossing Over, GeneticCytidine DeaminaseGene ConversionGenes, ReporterGreen Fluorescent ProteinsHomologous RecombinationHumansImmunoglobulin Switch RegionLuminescent ProteinsMiceModels, GeneticMolecular Sequence DataNucleic Acid HeteroduplexesRecombinational DNA RepairRepetitive Sequences, Nucleic AcidSequence DeletionSequence Homology, Nucleic AcidSomatic Hypermutation, ImmunoglobulinConceptsHomologous recombinationCytidine deaminase proteinSequence repeatsCytidine deaminationDNA end resectionHundreds of basesAnalysis of recombinantsVertebrate cellsGene conversionRepeat recombinationEnd resectionHolliday junctionsHomologous sequencesSequence homologyReporter transgeneStrand invasionIntergenic deletionRecombinogenic activityImmunoglobulin lociRepeatsSomatic hypermutationHeteroduplex formationRecombinationProteinDeamination
2013
The Ataxia Telangiectasia mutated kinase controls Igκ allelic exclusion by inhibiting secondary Vκ-to-Jκ rearrangements
Steinel NC, Lee BS, Tubbs AT, Bednarski JJ, Schulte E, Yang-Iott KS, Schatz DG, Sleckman BP, Bassing CH. The Ataxia Telangiectasia mutated kinase controls Igκ allelic exclusion by inhibiting secondary Vκ-to-Jκ rearrangements. Journal Of Experimental Medicine 2013, 210: 233-239. PMID: 23382544, PMCID: PMC3570110, DOI: 10.1084/jem.20121605.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdaptor Proteins, Signal TransducingAllelesAnimalsAtaxia Telangiectasia Mutated ProteinsB-LymphocytesBase SequenceCell Cycle ProteinsDNA Breaks, Double-StrandedDNA-Binding ProteinsGene Rearrangement, B-Lymphocyte, Light ChainHistonesHomeodomain ProteinsImmunoglobulin kappa-ChainsIntracellular Signaling Peptides and ProteinsMiceMice, 129 StrainMice, KnockoutModels, BiologicalProtein Serine-Threonine KinasesRNA, MessengerSignal TransductionTumor Suppressor ProteinsConceptsDNA double-strand breaksRAG DNA double-strand breaksAllelic exclusionIgκ rearrangementAtaxia telangiectasiaProtein kinase kinaseAntigen receptor chainsDouble-strand breaksHistone H2AX phosphorylationFeedback inhibitionATM kinaseIgκ recombinationKinase kinaseDNA-PKConcomitant repressionH2AX phosphorylationRAG endonucleaseReceptor chainsMDC1H2AXKinaseAllelesRecombinationRearrangementTelangiectasia
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, Genetic
2011
V(D)J Recombination: Mechanisms of Initiation
Schatz DG, Swanson PC. V(D)J Recombination: Mechanisms of Initiation. Annual Review Of Genetics 2011, 45: 167-202. PMID: 21854230, DOI: 10.1146/annurev-genet-110410-132552.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsProtein-DNA complexesUbiquitin ligase activityHistone recognitionDomain organizationRAG proteinsRAG2 proteinsLigase activityT-cell receptor genesRecombination signalsDNA breaksHeptamer sequenceLymphocyte developmentDNA breakageDNA cleavageGene segmentsFunctional significanceProper repairReceptor geneRAG1ProteinRecombinationMechanism of initiationComplexesRecent advancesGenes
2010
The In Vivo Pattern of Binding of RAG1 and RAG2 to Antigen Receptor Loci
Ji Y, Resch W, Corbett E, Yamane A, Casellas R, Schatz DG. The In Vivo Pattern of Binding of RAG1 and RAG2 to Antigen Receptor Loci. Cell 2010, 141: 419-431. PMID: 20398922, PMCID: PMC2879619, DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2010.03.010.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsJ gene segmentsRAG proteinsGene segmentsSignal sequenceLineage-specific mannerAntigen receptor lociRecombination signal sequencesLysine 4Active chromatinRAG2 bindThousands of sitesHistone 3Receptor locusDevelopmental stagesD gene segmentsDiscrete sitesCritical initial stepVivo patternRAG1BindingRAG2Beta JProteinRecombinationSpecific binding
2007
The Beyond 12/23 Restriction Is Imposed at the Nicking and Pairing Steps of DNA Cleavage during V(D)J Recombination
Drejer-Teel AH, Fugmann SD, Schatz DG. The Beyond 12/23 Restriction Is Imposed at the Nicking and Pairing Steps of DNA Cleavage during V(D)J Recombination. Molecular And Cellular Biology 2007, 27: 6288-6299. PMID: 17636023, PMCID: PMC2099602, DOI: 10.1128/mcb.00835-07.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRecombination signal sequencesDNA cleavageGene segmentsDNA cleavage stepRecombination-activating gene 1Dbeta gene segmentVariable region exonsJbeta gene segmentsRAG proteinsDNA elementsSignal sequenceDirect VbetaRegion exonsGene 1Oligonucleotide substratesLocus sequenceDistinct combinationsProteinRecombinationCleavageNickingCleavage stepSequenceDifferent stepsExons