The Ligase reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Ligase

A ligase (aka synthetase) 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'

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