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Updated: May 30, 2026
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Principles of Site-Specific Recombinase (SSR) Technology
Published on: May 29, 2008
Site-specific recombinases as tools for heterologous gene integration
Nobutaka Hirano1, Tetsurou Muroi, Hideo Takahashi
1Department of Chemical Biology & Applied Chemistry, College of Engineering, Nihon University, 1 Nakagawara, Tokusada, Tamura-machi, Koriyama, Fukushima 963-8642, Japan. nhirano@chem.ce.nihon-u.ac.jp
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology
|August 9, 2011
Summary
Site-specific recombinases, crucial enzymes for DNA manipulation, are reviewed. Their mechanisms and applications in genome engineering, particularly gene integration, are highlighted for diverse organisms.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Enzymology
- Genomics
Background:
- Site-specific recombinases are enzymes mediating DNA recombination (integration, excision, inversion).
- They are vital in microbial life cycles and classified as tyrosine-type or serine-type based on catalytic residues.
- These enzymes are essential tools for in vivo genome engineering.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recombination mechanisms of well-characterized site-specific recombinases.
- To highlight recent advances in applying these recombinases for genomic manipulation.
- To focus on site-specific gene integration into heterologous genomes.
Main Methods:
- Review of literature on tyrosine-type and serine-type recombinase mechanisms.
- Analysis of published applications in genome engineering across various organisms.
- Examination of studies focusing on gene integration strategies.
Main Results:
- Detailed comparison of tyrosine-type (Holliday junction intermediate) and serine-type (180° rotation) catalytic mechanisms.
- Overview of recombinase classification based on directionality (tyrosine-type) and protein size (serine-type).
- Demonstration of successful applications in diverse heterologous genomes, from bacteria to eukaryotes.
Conclusions:
- Site-specific recombinases are versatile tools with distinct mechanisms.
- Their application in genome engineering, especially for gene integration, has advanced significantly.
- Further research promises expanded utility in manipulating complex genomes.
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