Molecular duality of DNA ligase in axolotl corresponds to distinctive transcriptional information.

Based upon the use of specific antibodies and sucrose gradient sedimentation analysis, the present work describes the use of the post-transcriptional equipment of the urodele egg to compare the information contained in two RNA samples extracted from respectively liver and activated axolotl eggs. It is shown that besides the normal DNA ligase activity present in the host Pleurodeles eggs, RNA can translate for the specific carried information revealing a difference between the two samples. Moreover, unlike in nuclear transplantation, the homologous DNA ligases are not mutually exclusive. These observations give a new convincing support of the genetic basis of the molecular duality of DNA ligases.