LIG3

Chr 17AR

DNA ligase 3

Also known as: LIG2, LIG3alpha, MTDPS20

LIG3 encodes DNA ligase III, which catalyzes the joining of DNA ends during excision repair in both the nucleus (as part of the XRCC1 complex) and mitochondria. Mutations cause mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome 20 (MNGIE type) with autosomal recessive inheritance. The gene is highly constrained against loss-of-function mutations, reflecting its essential role in DNA repair across cellular compartments.

OMIMResearchSummary from RefSeq, OMIM, UniProt
DNmechanismARLOEUF 0.681 OMIM phenotype
Clinical SummaryLIG3
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Gene-Disease Validity (ClinGen)
mitochondrial disease · ARDefinitive

Definitive — sufficient evidence for diagnostic panels

Population Constraint (gnomAD)
Low constraint (pLI 0.00) — loss-of-function variants are relatively tolerated in the population.

Population Genetics & Constraint

gnomAD v4 — loss-of-function & missense intolerance

Tolerant — LoF & missense variants common in population
LoF Constraint
0.68LOEUF
pLI 0.000
Z-score 3.39
OE 0.49 (0.350.68)
Tolerant

Typical tolerance to LoF variation

Missense Constraint
1.63Z-score
OE missense 0.81 (0.750.88)
478 obs / 589.1 exp
Tolerant

Mild missense constraint

Observed / Expected Ratios
LoF OE0.49 (0.350.68)
00.351.4
Missense OE0.81 (0.750.88)
00.61.4
Synonymous OE0.96
01.21.6
LoF obs/exp: 25 / 51.2Missense obs/exp: 478 / 589.1Syn Z: 0.43
DN
0.6455th %ile
GOF
0.4973th %ile
LOF
0.3648th %ile

The highest-scoring mechanism for this gene is dominant-negative.

DNprediction above median

Note: In-silico variant effect predictors (SIFT, PolyPhen, REVEL, CADD) may underestimate pathogenicity of missense variants in genes with GOF or DN mechanisms. Consider functional evidence and clinical context.

Predictions from Badonyi M, Marsh JA. PLoS ONE. 2024;19(8):e0307312.

ClinVar Variant Classifications

0 submitted variants in ClinVar

Protein Context — Lollipop Plot

LIG3 · protein map & ClinVar variants

Showing all ClinVar variants across the protein. Search a specific variant to highlight its position.

3D Protein StructureAlphaFold

Clinical Trials

Active and recruiting trials from ClinicalTrials.gov

No active trials found for this gene.

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Clinical Literature
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