Structure of the bacteriophage Mu transposase core: a common structural motif for DNA transposition and retroviral integration.
Rice, P., Mizuuchi, K.(1995) Cell 82: 209-220
- PubMed: 7628012 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0092-8674(95)90308-9
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
1BCM, 1BCO - PubMed Abstract: 
The crystal structure of the core domain of bacteriophage Mu transposase, MuA, has been determined at 2.4 A resolution. The first of two subdomains contains the active site and, despite very limited sequence homology, exhibits a striking similarity to the core domain of HIV-1 integrase, which carries out a similar set of biochemical reactions. It also exhibits more limited similarity to other nucleases, RNase H and RuvC. The second, a beta barrel, connects to the first subdomain through several contacts. Three independent determinations of the monomer structure from two crystal forms all show the active site held in a similar, apparently inactive configuration. The enzymatic activity of MuA is known to be activated by formation of a DNA-bound tetramer of the protein. We propose that the connections between the two subdomains may be involved in the cross-talk between the active site and the other domains of the transposase that controls the activity of the protein.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-0540, USA.