Figure 1.
Schematic of RAG-mediated DNA binding and cleavage. RAG1/RAG2/HMGB1 (shaded oval) bind to either a 12RSS or 23RSS (gray or white triangles) to form the SC and then capture a second, complementary RSS to form the PC, within which DNA cleavage is completed. DNA cleavage occurs in two steps, nicking and hairpin formation (inset). Nicking can occur in the SC or PC, while hairpin formation is restricted to the PC. The DNA sequence elements that make up the RSS DNA substrate are shown at bottom.