Mutational analysis of domain IIβ of bacteriophage Mu transposase: Domains IIα and IIβ belong to different catalytic complementation groups

Abstract This study examines the contribution of domain IIβ of bacteriophage Mu transposase (A protein), a subdomain of the central catalytic domain II, to the transposition reaction. The properties of several point mutations implicate a role for this domain in facilitating metal-assisted assembly of the synaptic complex, as well as deletions in domain IIβ can be complemented by those in domain IIα but not those in domain IIIα. Thus, residues within subdomains IIα and IIβ belong to different catalytic complementation groups.