transposase

The new method used an enzyme called transposase to remove the cassette from the mouse cells.

Spero News 2009

The new method used an enzyme called transposase to remove the cassette from the mouse cells.

Spero News 2009

I think it is significant that the line of thought is that it arrived via horizontal gene transfer, that Rag1 arrived via horizontal gene transfer, and RAG2 emerged after recruitment of the Transib transposase as a protein that was not encoded by the ancestral Transib (AFAIK).

Death of a popular anti-ID argument 2007

Not to mention that, if the hypothesis is correct, it is most likely that RAG2 has emerged later after recruitment of the Transib transposase as a protein that was not encoded by the ancestral Transib.

Confirmation Bias and ID 2006

Here we show that the approximately 600-amino acid “core” region of RAG1 required for its catalytic activity is significantly similar to the transposase encoded by DNA transposons that belong to the Transib superfamily.

Creationism And The Strain Of Civilisation « INTERSTELLAR TACTICS 2008

For one, there are no reports of a transposase mutant or otherwise that is able to mediate site-specific inversion.

Immune System Evolution #1: Comments on Annotated Bibliography - The Panda's Thumb 2006

RAGs should operate by mechanisms similar to transposase mechanisms

Immune System Evolution #1: Comments on Annotated Bibliography - The Panda's Thumb 2006

Here we show that RAG1 and RAG2 together form a transposase capable of excising a piece of DNA containing recombination signals from a donor site and inserting it into a target DNA molecule.

Immune System Evolution #1: Comments on Annotated Bibliography - The Panda's Thumb 2006

At the very end of each transposon element is a characteristic sequence, which is recognized by the specific transposase I am sure you are already seeing the parallel with VDJ recombination.

The Revenge of Calvin and Hobbes - The Panda's Thumb 2005

However, the lack of introns and chromosomal location of RAG2, right next to RAG1, are too strong a hint to dismiss, so I think the prediction still remains that a RAG2 ancestor will be found in association with a mobile DNA element, along with a RAG1-like transposase.

The Revenge of Calvin and Hobbes - The Panda's Thumb 2005