RAG1
Domain
The RING-type zinc finger mediates the E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase activity.
The NBD (nonamer binding) DNA-binding domain mediates the specific binding to the nonamer RSS motif by forming a tightly interwoven homodimer that binds and synapses 2 nonamer elements, with each NBD making contact with both DNA molecules. Each RSS is composed of well-conserved heptamer (consensus 5'-CACAGTG-3') and nonamer (consensus 5'-ACAAAAACC-3') sequences separated by a spacer of either 12 bp or 23 bp.
Function
Catalytic component of the RAG complex, a multiprotein complex that mediates the DNA cleavage phase during V(D)J recombination. V(D)J recombination assembles a diverse repertoire of immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor genes in developing B and T-lymphocytes through rearrangement of different V (variable), in some cases D (diversity), and J (joining) gene segments. In the RAG complex, RAG1 mediates the DNA-binding to the conserved recombination signal sequences (RSS) and catalyzes the DNA cleavage activities by introducing a double-strand break between the RSS and the adjacent coding segment. RAG2 is not a catalytic component but is required for all known catalytic activities. DNA cleavage occurs in 2 steps: a first nick is introduced in the top strand immediately upstream of the heptamer, generating a 3'-hydroxyl group that can attack the phosphodiester bond on the opposite strand in a direct transesterification reaction, thereby creating 4 DNA ends: 2 hairpin coding ends and 2 blunt, 5'-phosphorylated ends. The chromatin structure plays an essential role in the V(D)J recombination reactions and the presence of histone H3 trimethylated at 'Lys-4' (H3K4me3) stimulates both the nicking and haipinning steps. The RAG complex also plays a role in pre-B cell allelic exclusion, a process leading to expression of a single immunoglobulin heavy chain allele to enforce clonality and monospecific recognition by the B-cell antigen receptor (BCR) expressed on individual B-lymphocytes. The introduction of DNA breaks by the RAG complex on one immunoglobulin allele induces ATM-dependent repositioning of the other allele to pericentromeric heterochromatin, preventing accessibility to the RAG complex and recombination of the second allele. In addition to its endonuclease activity, RAG1 also acts as an E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase that mediates monoubiquitination of histone H3. Histone H3 monoubiquitination is required for the joining step of V(D)J recombination. Mediates polyubiquitination of KPNA1 (By similarity).
Involvement in disease
Combined cellular and humoral immune defects with granulomas
CHIDG
Immunodeficiency disease with granulomas in the skin, mucous membranes, and internal organs. Other characteristics include hypogammaglobulinemia, a diminished number of T and B-cells, and sparse thymic tissue on ultrasonography.
None
The disease is caused by variants affecting the gene represented in this entry.
Severe combined immunodeficiency autosomal recessive T-cell-negative/B-cell-negative/NK-cell-positive
T(-)B(-)NK(+) SCID
A form of severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), a genetically and clinically heterogeneous group of rare congenital disorders characterized by impairment of both humoral and cell-mediated immunity, leukopenia, and low or absent antibody levels. Patients present in infancy recurrent, persistent infections by opportunistic organisms. The common characteristic of all types of SCID is absence of T-cell-mediated cellular immunity due to a defect in T-cell development.
None
The disease is caused by variants affecting the gene represented in this entry.
Omenn syndrome
OS
Severe immunodeficiency characterized by the presence of activated, anergic, oligoclonal T-cells, hypereosinophilia, and high IgE levels.
None
The disease is caused by variants affecting the gene represented in this entry.
Alpha/beta T-cell lymphopenia, with gamma/delta T-cell expansion, severe cytomegalovirus infection and autoimmunity
T-CMVA
An immunological disorder characterized by oligoclonal expansion of TCR gamma/delta T-cells, TCR alpha/beta T-cell lymphopenia, severe, disseminated cytomegalovirus infection and autoimmune cytopenia.
None
The disease is caused by variants affecting the gene represented in this entry.
Post-translational modifications
Autoubiquitinated in the presence of CDC34/UBCH3.
Sequence Similarities
Belongs to the RAG1 family.
Tissue Specificity
Maturing lymphoid cells.
Cellular localization
- Nucleus
Alternative names
RNF74, RAG1, V(D)J recombination-activating protein 1, RAG-1, RING finger protein 74