LigD
LigD is a multifunctional ligase/polymerase/nuclease found in bacterial non-homologous end joining DNA repair systems. It is much more error-prone than the more complex eukaryotic system of NHEJ, which uses multiple enzymes to fill its role. The polymerase preferentially use rNTPs, possibly advantageous in dormant cells.
The actual architecture of LigD is variable.
- The LigD homolog in Bacillus subtilis does not have the nuclease domain.
- LigD with its ligase domain artificially removed can perform its function with a separate LigC acting as the ligase.
- The LigD homolog in the archaeon Methanocella paludicola is broken into three single-domain proteins sharing an operon.