LIG4 — Medicago truncatula

Summary

MTR_2G038030, designated MtLIG4, encodes a DNA ligase IV, an ATP-dependent enzyme with DNA ligase (ATP) activity and DNA polymerase activity that is localised to the nucleus and the DNA ligase IV complex. The gene is associated with canonical nonhomologous end joining, double-strand break repair, base-excision repair, gap-filling, nucleotide-excision repair, DNA gap filling, DNA recombination, and the DNA damage response, as well as responses to X-ray and UV-B radiation. MtLIG4 has been connected to nodulation, leaf shape, and root morphology traits. Phenotypic associations include cold tolerance, ionizing radiation resistance, telomere fusion, homologous recombination, gene targeting frequency, severely delayed seed germination, hypersensitivity to UV-B with reduced DNA repair, and transformation efficiency. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to DNA damage repair, double-strand break repair, radiosensitivity, and seed longevity.