Chimeric reverse transcriptase of Moloney murine leukaemia virus, having the YXDD box of a Drosophila retrotransposon, 17.6.
All reverse transcriptases (RTs) so far examined are known to possess in common a stretch of 7 amino acids called the YXDD box. Various mutations were introduced in vitro into the nucleotide sequence coding for this box of Moloney murine leukaemia virus (Mo-MuLV) RT. The YXDD box of Mo-MuLV could be replaced by the counterpart of a Drosophila retrotransposon, 17.6, without loss of activity, while virtually complete loss of activity was detected in the case of replacement of the YXDD box of Rous sarcoma virus RT. Amino-acid substitution at position X resulted in significant change in divalent metal ion preference and enzyme activity, thus indicating that the YXDD box possibly constitutes a part of the active center of RT through metal ion binding.
Kanda
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T
Department of Biochemistry, Kyushu University School of Medicine, Fukuoka, Japan.
Saigo
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K
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002678:Chimera; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics*; D005814:Genes, Viral; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D008979:Moloney murine leukemia virus / Q000235:genetics*; D016296:Mutagenesis; D009154:Mutation; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000235:genetics*
D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase