SET Domain And Mariner Transposase Fusion Gene (SETMAR)

The deduced 671-amino acid protein contains an N-terminal pre-SET domain, followed by a SET domain, a transposase domain, and an integrase domain. The transposase domain contains a DDE acidic motif that is conserved among retroviral integrases and transposases and is essential for DNA strand cleavage and end joining. Metnase shares 50% amino acid identity with planarian mariner-9 in the transposase domain.

PSO4 bound SETMAR and formed a stable complex with SETMAR on DNA, and that ionizing radiation induced complex formation. In human embryonic kidney cells treated with PSO4 small interfering RNA, SETMAR failed to localize on DNA double-strand breaks and to stimulate DNA end joining.