Encyclopedia > Ligase

Article Content

Ligase

A Ligase is an enzyme that can ligate[?] ("glue together") two molecules with a covalent bond, using energy from ATP.

DNA ligase can ligate broken DNA strands, forming covalent phosphodiester bonds.

An example of how a ligase works (with sticky ends):

 5'-AGTCTGATCTGACT        GATGCGTATGCTAGTGCT-3'
 3'-TCAGACTAGACTGACTACG        CATACGATCACGA-5'
 becomes
 5'-AGTCTGATCTGACTGATGCGTATGCTAGTGCT-3'
 3'-TCAGACTAGACTGACTACGCATACGATCACGA-5'

All Wikipedia text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License

Search Encyclopedia

Search over one million articles, find something about almost anything!

Featured Article

Islandia, New York

... Contents Islandia, New York Islandia is a village located in Suffolk County, New York. As of the 2000 census, the village had a total population of ...