[lahy-geys, -geyz] 
| any of a class of enzymes that catalyze the joining of two molecules by formation of a covalent bond accompanied by the hydrolysis of ATP. |
| li·gase (lī'gās', -gāz') n. Any of a class of enzymes that catalyze the linkage of two molecules, generally utilizing ATP as the energy donor. Also called synthetase. [Latin ligāre, to bind; see leig- in Indo-European roots + -ase.] |
ligase li·gase (lī'gās', -gāz')
n.
Any of a class of enzymes, including the carboxylases, that catalyze the linkage of two molecules, generally utilizing ATP as the energy donor. Also called synthetase.
ligase
any one of a class of about 50 enzymes that catalyze reactions involving the conservation of chemical energy and provide a couple between energy-demanding synthetic processes and energy-yielding breakdown reactions. They catalyze the joining of two molecules, deriving the needed energy from the cleavage of an energy-rich phosphate bond (in many cases, by the simultaneous conversion of adenosine triphosphate [ATP] to adenosine diphosphate [ADP]). A ligase catalyzing the formation of a carbon-oxygen bond between an amino acid and transfer RNA is called amino acid-RNA ligase. Carbon-nitrogen (CN) bonds are formed by the action of such enzymes as amide synthetases and peptide synthetases.
Learn more about ligase with a free trial on Britannica.com.
geɪs