Structural highlights
Function[MOS1T_DROMA] Mediates transposition of transposon Mos1 by a 'cut and paste' mechanism. Transposases are sequence-specific nucleases and strand transferases that catalyze transposition through an ordered series of events: sequence-specific binding of transposase to the terminal inverted repeats (IR) present at each end of the transposon, pairing of the transposon IRs in a paired-end complex (PEC), cleavage of one or both DNA strands at each transposon end, capture of target DNA, and strand transfer to insert the transposon at a new site. Publication Abstract from PubMedCut-and-paste DNA transposons of the mariner/Tc1 family are useful tools for genome engineering and are inserted specifically at TA target sites. A crystal structure of the mariner transposase Mos1 (derived from Drosophila mauritiana), in complex with transposon ends covalently joined to target DNA, portrays the transposition machinery after DNA integration. It reveals severe distortion of target DNA and flipping of the target adenines into extra-helical positions. Fluorescence experiments confirm dynamic base flipping in solution. Transposase residues W159, R186, F187 and K190 stabilise the target DNA distortions and are required for efficient transposon integration and transposition in vitro. Transposase recognises the flipped target adenines via base-specific interactions with backbone atoms, offering a molecular basis for TA target sequence selection. Our results will provide a template for re-designing mariner/Tc1 transposases with modified target specificities. A bend, flip and trap mechanism for transposon integration.,Morris ER, Grey H, McKenzie G, Jones AC, Richardson JM Elife. 2016 May 25;5. pii: e15537. doi: 10.7554/eLife.15537. PMID:27223327[1] From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. References
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