SEQUENCE OF THE DNA LIGASE-ENCODING GENE FROM THERMUS-SCOTODUCTUS ANDCONSERVED MOTIFS IN DNA LIGASES

By dideoxynucleotide sequencing of a genomic clone, we have determined the complete nucleotide sequence of the gene encoding NAD(+)-dependen t DNA ligase (EC 6.5.1.2) of the thermophilic bacterium Thermus scotod uctus. The gene encodes a 674-amino-acid thermostable enzyme highly si milar to other bacterial DNA ligases and to parts of the deduced gene product of Escherichia coli ORF f562, 5' to the spoR gene encoding 5' guanosyl kinase.