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

作者：Brett S. Chevalier · 发表于：Nucleic Acids Research · 年份：2001 · DOI：10.1093/nar/29.18.3757 · 被引用次数：490 · 研究领域：RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms、CRISPR and Genetic Engineering、RNA modifications and cancer

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.