Department of Physics and Optical Science, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, 28223, United States.
Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2010 Sep 30;62(12):1187-95. doi: 10.1016/j.addr.2010.06.006. Epub 2010 Jul 6.
DNA transposons are mobile DNA elements that can move from one DNA molecule to another and thereby deliver genetic information into human chromosomes in order to confer a new function or replace a defective gene. This process requires a transposase enzyme. During transposition DD[E/D]-transposases undergo a series of conformational changes. We summarize the structural features of DD[E/D]-transposases for which three-dimensional structures are available and that relate to transposases, which are being developed for use in mammalian cells. Similar to other members of the polynucleotidyl transferase family, the catalytic domains of DD[E/D]-transposases share a common feature: an RNase H-like fold that draws three catalytically active residues, the DDE motif, into close proximity. Beyond this fold, the structures of catalytic domains vary considerably, and the DD[E/D]-transposases display marked structural diversity within their DNA-binding domains. Yet despite such structural variability, essentially the same end result is achieved.
DNA 转座子是可移动的 DNA 元件，可从一个 DNA 分子转移到另一个 DNA 分子，从而将遗传信息传递到人类染色体中，以赋予新的功能或取代有缺陷的基因。这个过程需要转座酶。在转座过程中，DD[E/D]-转座酶会经历一系列构象变化。我们总结了结构特征 DD[E/D]-转座酶的三维结构，这些结构与正在开发用于哺乳动物细胞的转座酶有关。与多核苷酸转移酶家族的其他成员类似，DD[E/D]-转座酶的催化结构域具有共同特征：一种 RNase H 样折叠，将三个催化活性残基（DDE 基序）拉近。在这个折叠之外，催化结构域的结构变化很大，并且 DNA 结合结构域的 DD[E/D]-转座酶显示出明显的结构多样性。尽管存在这种结构变异性，但基本上实现了相同的最终结果。
