Harbinger Transposase Derived Protein 1 (HARBI1)

HARBI1 encoding a 350-aa protein entirely derived from a Harbinger transposase some 450-500 million years ago. The HARBI1 proteins are conserved in humans, rats, mice, cows, pigs, chickens, frogs, and various bony fish, as well as other extremely important proteins, including RAG1 and RAG2. Conserved motifs detected in the Harbinger transposases are also well preserved in the HARBI1 proteins.

HARBI1 proteins are expected to be nucleases important for functioning of bony vertebrates. The protein most similar to HARBI1 is encoded by an autonomous Harbinger 3_DR transposon that was transpositionally active in the zebrafish genome a few million years ago.The hypothetical HARBI1 nucleases are also characterized by a strong DNA-target specificity.