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What role does DNA ligase play in recombinant DNA technology?
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recombinant DNA
The process of DNA extraction is necessary to isolate molecules of DNA from cells or tissues. A series of steps, including the use of protease enzymes to strip proteins from the DNA, are required for isolating pure DNA that is suitable for use in later procedures, such as cloning or sequencing.
In recombinant DNA technology, DNA ligase serves as a critical tool for joining DNA fragments together.1
While restriction enzymes act as "molecular scissors" to cut donor DNA and vector DNA at specific sites, these fragments often form only unstable associations when their complementary ends pair together. At this stage, the sugar-phosphate backbone of the DNA remains unsealed.2
DNA ligase is the enzyme responsible for sealing these segments by catalyzing the formation of the necessary chemical bonds. By joining the donor fragment and the vector into a continuous, stable double helix, DNA ligase enables the creation of a functional recombinant molecule that can be successfully introduced into a host cell for replication.21