With their ability to catalyse the formation of phosphodiester linkages, DNA ligases and RNA ligases are essential tools for many protocols in molecular biology and biotechnology. Currently, the nucleic acid ligases from bacteriophage T4 are used extensively in these protocols. In this review, we argue that the nucleic acid ligases from Archaea represent a largely untapped pool of enzymes with diverse and potentially favourable properties for new and emerging biotechnological applications. We summarise the current state of knowledge on archaeal DNA and RNA ligases, which makes apparent the relative scarcity of information on in vitro activities that are of most relevance to biotechnologists (such as the ability to join blunt- or cohesive-ended, double-stranded DNA fragments). We highlight the existing biotechnological applications of archaeal DNA ligases and RNA ligases. Finally, we draw attention to recent experiments in which protein engineering was used to modify the activities of the DNA ligase from Pyrococcus furiosus and the RNA ligase from Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus, thus demonstrating the potential for further work in this area.

中文翻译：

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古细菌核酸里加斯及其在生物技术中的潜力。

凭借其催化磷酸二酯键形成的能力，DNA连接酶和RNA连接酶是分子生物学和生物技术中许多方案的必不可少的工具。当前，来自噬菌体T4的核酸连接酶广泛用于这些方案中。在这篇综述中，我们认为古细菌中的核酸连接酶代表了一种未开发的酶库，这些酶对于新的和新兴的生物技术应用具有多样且潜在的有利特性。我们总结了古细菌DNA和RNA连接酶的当前知识状态，这使体外信息的相对匮乏显而易见。与生物技术人员最相关的活动（例如连接平末端或内聚末端的双链DNA片段的能力）。我们重点介绍了古细菌DNA连接酶和RNA连接酶的现有生物技术应用。最后，我们提请注意最近的实验，在该实验中，蛋白质工程被用来修饰激烈热球菌的DNA连接酶和产甲烷嗜热甲烷单生菌的RNA连接酶的活性，从而证明了在该领域进一步开展工作的潜力。