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 stepTransposon 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
2021
Structural visualization of transcription activated by a multidrug-sensing MerR family regulator
Yang Y, Liu C, Zhou W, Shi W, Chen M, Zhang B, Schatz DG, Hu Y, Liu B. Structural visualization of transcription activated by a multidrug-sensing MerR family regulator. Nature Communications 2021, 12: 2702. PMID: 33976201, PMCID: PMC8113463, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22990-8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAmino Acid MotifsBacterial ProteinsBase SequenceBinding SitesCloning, MolecularCryoelectron MicroscopyCrystallography, X-RayDNA, BacterialDNA-Binding ProteinsDNA-Directed RNA PolymerasesEscherichia coliGene ExpressionGene Expression Regulation, BacterialGenetic VectorsModels, MolecularNucleic Acid ConformationPromoter Regions, GeneticProtein BindingProtein Conformation, alpha-HelicalProtein Conformation, beta-StrandProtein Interaction Domains and MotifsRecombinant ProteinsTranscription Elongation, GeneticTranscription Initiation, GeneticConceptsMerR family regulatorsFamily regulatorCryo-electron microscopy structureBacterial RNA polymerase holoenzymeRegulation of transcriptionRNA polymerase holoenzymePromoter openingTranscription regulationMicroscopy structureTranscription initiationPolymerase holoenzymeRNA elongationTranscriptional regulatorsMerR familyDNA remodelingSpacer DNAPromoter recognitionPromoter elementsCellular signalsSpacer promoterInitial transcriptionTranscription processTranscriptionPromoterRegulator
2014
The architecture of the 12RSS in V(D)J recombination signal and synaptic complexes
Ciubotaru M, Surleac MD, Metskas LA, Koo P, Rhoades E, Petrescu AJ, Schatz DG. The architecture of the 12RSS in V(D)J recombination signal and synaptic complexes. Nucleic Acids Research 2014, 43: 917-931. PMID: 25550426, PMCID: PMC4333397, DOI: 10.1093/nar/gku1348.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
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
1999
Detection of RAG Protein-V(D)J Recombination Signal Interactions Near the Site of DNA Cleavage by UV Cross-Linking
Eastman Q, Villey I, Schatz D. Detection of RAG Protein-V(D)J Recombination Signal Interactions Near the Site of DNA Cleavage by UV Cross-Linking. Molecular And Cellular Biology 1999, 19: 3788-3797. PMID: 10207102, PMCID: PMC84213, DOI: 10.1128/mcb.19.5.3788.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRecombination signal sequencesRAG proteinsRAG2 proteinsDNA cleavageHeptamer elementSite of cleavageActive site organizationRAG1-RAG2RAG1 proteinSignal sequenceDouble-strand cleavageSite-specific interactionsSame nucleotideRecognition surfaceProteinRAG1UV CrossSignal interactionsSite organizationCleavageSequenceComplexesSitesClose proximityNucleotides
1997
Crystal structure of the RAG1 dimerization domain reveals multiple zinc-binding motifs including a novel zinc binuclear cluster
Bellon S, Rodgers K, Schatz D, Coleman J, Steitz T. Crystal structure of the RAG1 dimerization domain reveals multiple zinc-binding motifs including a novel zinc binuclear cluster. Nature Structural & Molecular Biology 1997, 4: 586-591. PMID: 9228952, DOI: 10.1038/nsb0797-586.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
1996
A Zinc-binding Domain Involved in the Dimerization of RAG1
Rodgers K, Bu Z, Fleming K, Schatz D, Engelman D, Coleman J. A Zinc-binding Domain Involved in the Dimerization of RAG1. Journal Of Molecular Biology 1996, 260: 70-84. PMID: 8676393, DOI: 10.1006/jmbi.1996.0382.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRecombination-activating gene 1Zinc-binding motifDimerization domainZinc fingerProtein-protein interactionsLymphoid-specific genesN-terminal thirdZinc finger sequencesAmino acid residuesC3HC4 motifRAG1 sequencesRAG1 proteinTerminal domainHomodimer formationAcid residuesBiophysical techniquesGene 1Energetics of associationMonomeric subunitsMotifProteinFinger sequencesSequenceC3HC4Zinc ions