Abstract
In the first step of V(D)J recombination, the RAG1 and RAG2 proteins cleave DNA between a signal sequence and the adjacent coding sequence, generating a blunt signal end and a coding end with a closed hairpin structure. These hairpins are intermediates leading to the formation of assembled antigen receptor genes. It is shown here that the hairpins are formed by a chemical mechanism of direct trans-esterification, very similar to the early steps of transpositional recombination and retroviral integration. A minor variation in the reaction is sufficient to divert the process from transposition to hairpin formation.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Base Sequence
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DNA / chemistry
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DNA / metabolism
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DNA Nucleotidyltransferases / metabolism
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DNA Transposable Elements
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DNA-Binding Proteins*
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Esterification
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Gene Rearrangement*
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Gene Rearrangement, T-Lymphocyte*
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Genes, Immunoglobulin
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HIV / genetics*
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Homeodomain Proteins*
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Integrases
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Nucleic Acid Conformation
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Proteins / metabolism
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Recombinases
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Recombination, Genetic*
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Thionucleotides / metabolism
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VDJ Recombinases
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Virus Integration*
Substances
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DNA Transposable Elements
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DNA-Binding Proteins
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Homeodomain Proteins
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Proteins
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Recombinases
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Thionucleotides
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V(D)J recombination activating protein 2
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RAG-1 protein
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DNA
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DNA Nucleotidyltransferases
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Integrases
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VDJ Recombinases
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integron integrase IntI1