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 immunity
2024
The Role of RAG in V(D)J Recombination
Xiao J, Martin E, Wang K, Schatz D. The Role of RAG in V(D)J Recombination. 2024 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-128-24465-4.00019-3.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchRecombination signal sequencesRecombination activating geneV(D)J recombinationDNA cleavageConserved sequence elementsNonhomologous end-joining pathwayLymphoid-specific proteinsAntigen receptor gene segmentsEnd-joining pathwayPair of hairpinsReceptor gene segmentsTransposable elementsDomain architectureSequence elementsLocus structureSignal sequenceTransposition mechanismTranscriptional regulationJawed vertebratesTransposase activityActive genesPosttranslational modificationsEnhancer elementsProtein structureCell cycle
2017
New insights into the evolutionary origins of the recombination‐activating gene proteins and V(D)J recombination
Carmona LM, Schatz DG. New insights into the evolutionary origins of the recombination‐activating gene proteins and V(D)J recombination. The FEBS Journal 2017, 284: 1590-1605. PMID: 27973733, PMCID: PMC5459667, DOI: 10.1111/febs.13990.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTransposable elementsEvolutionary originRAG proteinsAbsence of RAG2Independent evolutionary originsBasal chordate amphioxusRecombination-activating gene (RAG) proteinsFamily of transposasesAntigen receptor genesRAG transposonChordate amphioxusJawed vertebratesSequence similarityEvolutionary relativesProteins RAG1RAG genesGene proteinRAG1Gene segmentsDiverse arrayMechanistic linkProteinRAG2Adaptive immune systemDNA cleavage reaction
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
2004
Antigen receptor genes and the evolution of a recombinase
Schatz DG. Antigen receptor genes and the evolution of a recombinase. Seminars In Immunology 2004, 16: 245-256. PMID: 15522623, DOI: 10.1016/j.smim.2004.08.004.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAntigen receptor genesReceptor geneDNA repair factorsSite-specific recombination reactionRAG transposonVertebrate genomesJawed vertebratesEvolutionary implicationsRAG2 proteinsTransposable elementsRepair factorsGenesAdaptive immune systemHorizontal transmissionRAG1VertebratesGenomeImmune systemTransposonGermlineRecombinaseRAG2ProteinRecombination reactionRecombination
1999
Transposition mediated by RAG1 and RAG2 and the evolution of the adaptive immune system
Schatz D. Transposition mediated by RAG1 and RAG2 and the evolution of the adaptive immune system. Immunologic Research 1999, 19: 169-182. PMID: 10493171, DOI: 10.1007/bf02786485.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsConceptsTransposable elementsAncestral receptor geneAdaptive immune systemReceptor gene segmentsReceptor geneAntigen receptor genesRAG proteinsRAG2 proteinsChromosomal DNAFunctional transposaseMillion yearsGene segmentsRAG1Dramatic supportImmune systemGenesRecent findingsUnusual structureProteinVertebratesTransposaseRAG2DNAEvolutionRecombination
1998
Transposition mediated by RAG1 and RAG2 and its implications for the evolution of the immune system
Agrawal A, Eastman Q, Schatz D. Transposition mediated by RAG1 and RAG2 and its implications for the evolution of the immune system. Nature 1998, 394: 744-751. PMID: 9723614, DOI: 10.1038/29457.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAmino Acid SequenceAnimalsAntibodiesBinding SitesB-LymphocytesCatalysisCell LineDNADNA Transposable ElementsDNA, CircularDNA-Binding ProteinsDrug Resistance, MicrobialEvolution, MolecularGene Rearrangement, B-LymphocyteGene Rearrangement, T-LymphocyteHigh Mobility Group ProteinsHomeodomain ProteinsImmune SystemMiceMolecular Sequence DataReceptors, Antigen, T-CellRecombination, GeneticRestriction MappingTransposasesVertebratesConceptsT-cell receptor genesRecombination signalsSequence-specific DNA recognitionAncestral receptor geneComponent gene segmentsSite-specific recombination reactionPiece of DNAEvolutionary divergenceJawless vertebratesRecombination-activating geneTransposable elementsDNA recognitionRetroviral integrationGermline insertionDNA moleculesGenesShort duplicationsDNA cleavageRAG1Gene segmentsTransposition reactionRAG2Receptor geneTarget DNA moleculesTarget DNA