Anti-DNA Ligase IV antibody (ab26039)

Function

Efficiently joins single-strand breaks in a double-stranded polydeoxynucleotide in an ATP-dependent reaction. Involved in DNA non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) required for double-strand break repair and V(D)J recombination. The LIG4-XRCC4 complex is responsible for the NHEJ ligation step, and XRCC4 enhances the joining activity of LIG4. Binding of the LIG4-XRCC4 complex to DNA ends is dependent on the assembly of the DNA-dependent protein kinase complex DNA-PK to these DNA ends.

Tissue specificity

Testis, thymus, prostate and heart.

Involvement in disease

Defects in LIG4 are the cause of LIG4 syndrome (LIG4S) [MIM:606593]. This disease is characterized by immunodeficiency and developmental and growth delay. Patients display unusual facial features, microcephaly, growth and/or developmental delay, pancytopenia, and various skin abnormalities.
Defects in LIG4 are a cause of severe combined immunodeficiency autosomal recessive T-cell-negative/B-cell-negative/NK-cell-positive with sensitivity to ionizing radiation (RSSCID) [MIM:602450]. SCID refers to a genetically and clinically heterogeneous group of rare congenital disorders characterized by impairment of both humoral and cell-mediated immunity, leukopenia, and low or absent antibody levels. Patients with SCID present in infancy with recurrent, persistent infections by opportunistic organisms. The common characteristic of all types of SCID is absence of T-cell-mediated cellular immunity due to a defect in T-cell development. Individuals affected by RS-SCID show defects in the DNA repair machinery necessary for coding joint formation and the completion of V(D)J recombination. A subset of cells from such patients show increased radiosensitivity.

Sequence similarities

Belongs to the ATP-dependent DNA ligase family.
Contains 2 BRCT domains.

Cellular localization

Nucleus.

Alternative names

Database links