MUTATIONAL ANALYSIS OF DOMAIN II-BETA OF BACTERIOPHAGE-MU TRANSPOSASE- DOMAINS II-ALPHA AND II-BETA BELONG TO DIFFERENT CATALYTIC COMPLEMENTATION GROUPS

This study examines the contribution of domain II beta of bacteriophag e Mu transposase (A protein), a subdomain of the central catalytic dom ain II, to the transposition reaction. The properties of several point mutations implicate a role for this domain in facilitating metal-assi sted assembly of the synaptic complex, as well as in intramolecular DN A strand transfer. Point mutations: as well as deletions in domain Il beta can be complemented by those in domain II alpha but not those in domain III alpha. Thus, residues within subdomains II alpha and II bet a belong to different catalytic complementation groups. (C) 1998 Acade mic Press Limited.