Work

Homing endonucleases: structural and functional insight into the catalysts of intron/intein mobility

Year: 2001

Type: article

Abstract: Homing endonucleases confer mobility to their host intervening sequence, either an intron or intein, by catalyzing a highly specific double-strand break in a cognate allele lacking the intervening sequence. These proteins are characterized by their ability to bind long DNA target sites (14-40 bp) and their tolerance of minor sequence changes in these sites. A wealth of biochemical and structural data has been generated for these enzymes over the past few years. Herein we review our current understanding of homing endonucleases, including their diversity and evolution, DNA-binding and catalytic mechanisms, and attempts to engineer them to bind novel DNA substrates.

Source: Nucleic Acids Research

DOI: 10.1093/nar/29.18.3757

Authors: B. S. Chevalier, B L Stoddard

Institutions: University of Washington, Fred Hutch Cancer Center

Language: English

Topic: CRISPR and Genetic Engineering

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, National Institute of General Medical Sciences

Awards: Structure, function and engineering of nuclease catalysts, Interdisciplinary Training in Cancer Research