An Atypical AAA+ ATPase Assembly Controls Efficient Transposition through DNA Remodeling and Transposase Recruitment

Ernesto Arias-Palomo, James M. Berger

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

Summary Transposons are ubiquitous genetic elements that drive genome rearrangements, evolution, and the spread of infectious disease and drug-resistance. Many transposons, such as Mu, Tn7, and IS21, require regulatory AAA+ ATPases for function. We use X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy to show that the ATPase subunit of IS21, IstB, assembles into a clamshell-shaped decamer that sandwiches DNA between two helical pentamers of ATP-associated AAA+ domains, sharply bending the duplex into a 180° U-turn. Biochemical studies corroborate key features of the structure and further show that the IS21 transposase, IstA, recognizes the IstB•DNA complex and promotes its disassembly by stimulating ATP hydrolysis. Collectively, these studies reveal a distinct manner of higher-order assembly and client engagement by a AAA+ ATPase and suggest a mechanistic model where IstB binding and subsequent DNA bending primes a selected insertion site for efficient transposition.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number8352
Pages (from-to)860-871
Number of pages12
JournalCell
Volume162
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 17 2015

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

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