ligase chain reaction

ligase chain reaction,

a type of DNA amplification that uses DNA ligase to link chains and amplify the template containing the sequence in question.

---

ligase [li´gās, lig´ās]

any of a class of enzymes that catalyze the joining together of two molecules coupled with the breakdown of a pyrophosphate bond in ATP or a similar triphosphate.

DNA ligase either of two enzymes that join two double-helical molecules of DNA together to make a longer DNA molecule.

ligase chain reaction a type of DNA amplification that uses DNA ligase to link chains and amplify the template containing the sequence in question.

---

ligase

an enzyme that repairs single-strand nicks in duplex DNA and covalently joins DNA fragments with complementary, overlapping (called also cohesive or sticky) ends or less efficiently, with blunt ends. Bacteriophage T4 ligase catalyzes the formation of a covalent phosphodiester bond between adjacent 5′-phosphate and 3′-hydroxyl groups in duplex DNA.

---

ligase chain reaction

a technique for detecting a specific nucleotide pair in a gene. Called also LCR.

---

ligase chain reaction

Ligation amplification reaction Molecular biology A DNA amplification technique for detecting minimal amounts of a known DNA sequence, similar in principle to PCR. See PCR.