title: Evidence of G.O.D.'s Miracle: Unearthing a RAG Transposon.
abstract: Diversity of antibodies and T cell receptors is generated by gene rearrangement dependent on RAG1 and RAG2, enzymes predicted to have been derived from a transposable element (TE) that invaded an immunoglobulin superfamily gene early in the evolution of jawed vertebrates. Now, Huang et al. report the discovery of ProtoRAG in the lower chordate Amphioxus, the long-anticipated TE related to the RAG transposon.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland Baltimore, 685 West Baltimore St., Suite 380, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. Electronic address: mflajnik@som.umaryland.edu.
authors.forename: Martin F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Flajnik
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D015321:Gene Rearrangement; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D014714:Vertebrates / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins