A bifunctional DNA binding region in Tn5 transposase

Tn5 transposition is a complicated process that requires the formation of a highly ordered protein–DNA structure, a synaptic complex, to catalyse the movement of a sequence of DNA (transposon) into a target DNA. Much is known about the structure of the synaptic complex and the positioning of protein–DNA contacts, although many protein–DNA contacts remain largely unstudied. In particular, there is little evidence for the positioning of donor DNA and target DNA. In this communication, we describe the isolation and analysis of mutant transposases that have, for the first time, provided genetic and biochemical evidence for the stage-specific positioning of both donor and target DNAs within the synaptic complex. Furthermore, we have provided evidence that some of the amino acids that contact donor DNA also contact target DNA, and therefore suggest that these amino acids help define a bifunctional DNA binding region responsible for these two transposase–DNA binding events.