HMG 14 and protamine enhance ligation of linear DNA to form linear multimers: phosphorylation of HMG 14 at Ser 20 specifically inhibits intermolecular DNA ligation.

HMG 14 and protamine can be used to enhance intermolecular ligation of low concentrations of linear DNA. Adding HMG 14 (50 moles per mole DNA) caused 50% of blunt-ended DNA to form predominantly dimers, and all cohesive-ended DNA to form multimers (greater than 6-mer) in response to T4 ligase. Protamine was maximally effective at 40:1, producing mostly dimers and trimers. Adding higher concentrations of HMG 14 did not affect the ligation pattern of cohesive-ended DNA, while higher concentrations of protamine inhibit the formation of multimers. Phosphorylation of HMG 14 at Ser 20 by Ca(++)-phospholipid dependent protein kinase abolished the ability of HMG 14 to stimulate intermolecular ligation, but did not substantially interfere with intramolecular ligation, or the binding of HMG 14 to linear or circular DNA as assessed by gel mobility. Thus Ser 20, which is located in the amino terminal DNA-binding domain of HMG 14, appears to modulate DNA-DNA interactions.