Gene:
ligase III, DNA, ATP-dependent
Gene ID:
192425
Symbol:
LIG3
Species:
1000
Description:
Eukaryotes, in contrast to prokaryotes, contain more than one DNA ligase, and these enzymes have distinct roles in DNA metabolism. Five DNA ligase activities, I-V, have been purified from mammalian cell extracts. Ligase III is more closely related to the DNA ligase encoded by pox viruses, than to replicative DNA ligases, such as mammalian DNA ligase 1, and thus may be involved in DNA repair and recombination. Two biochemically distinct isoforms of ligase III, alpha and beta, encoding polypeptides with different C-terminal amino acids have been identified, and result from alternative splicing of precursor mRNA.