Abstract
The V(D)J recombination/DNA repair factor Artemis belongs to the metallo-beta-lactamase (beta-Lact) superfamily of enzymes. Three regions can be defined within the Artemis protein sequence: (a) the beta-Lact homology domain, to which is appended (b) the beta-CASP region, specific of members of the beta-Lact superfamily acting on nucleic acids, and (c) the COOH-terminal domain. Using in vitro mutagenesis, here we show that the association of the beta-Lact and the beta-CASP regions suffices for in vivo V(D)J recombination of chromosome-integrated substrates. Single amino acid mutants point to critical catalytic residues for V(D)J recombination activity. The results presented here define the beta-Lact/beta-CASP domain of Artemis as the minimal core catalytic domain needed for V(D)J recombination and suggest that Artemis uses one or two Zn(II) ions to exert its catalytic activity, like bacterial class B beta-Lact enzymes hydrolyzing beta-lactam compounds.