title: DNA sequence and structure requirements for cleavage of V(D)J recombination signal sequences.
abstract: Purified RAG1 and RAG2 proteins can cleave DNA at V(D)J recombination signals. In dissecting the DNA sequence and structural requirements for cleavage, we find that the heptamer and nonamer motifs of the recombination signal sequence can independently direct both steps of the cleavage reaction. Proper helical spacing between these two elements greatly enhances the efficiency of cleavage, whereas improper spacing can lead to interference between the two elements. The signal sequences are surprisingly tolerant of structural variation and function efficiently when nicks, gaps, and mismatched bases are introduced or even when the signal sequence is completely single stranded. Sequence alterations that facilitate unpairing of the bases at the signal/coding border activate the cleavage reaction, suggesting that DNA distortion is critical for V(D)J recombination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Cuomo
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Mundy
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Oettinger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D016384:Consensus Sequence; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D004254:DNA Nucleotidyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism*; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D051379:Mice; D008961:Models, Structural; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D045567:VDJ Recombinases
chemical_list: D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D011506:Proteins; C499308:Rag2 protein, mouse; C064655:V(D)J recombination activating protein 2; C064658:RAG-1 protein; D004254:DNA Nucleotidyltransferases; D045567:VDJ Recombinases