NB8 DNA ligase from an extract of Thermus thermophilus HB8 could catalyze blunt-end ligation in the presence of high concentration of polyethylene glycols (PEG) or in the presence of polyamines. In the presence of high molecular weight PEG 20,000, 6,000, or 1,000 (8-28%), the enzyme catalyzed blunt-end intermolecular joining to yield linear oligomers, but no circular DNA forms. But in the presence of low molecular PEG 400, 200 (8-80%), or the monomer, ethylene glycol (16-80%), the circular forms were also detected by intramolecular ligation. In the presence of polyamines, the blunt-end ligation products were linear oligomers and the optimum concentrations were as follows: caldopentamine (0.05 mM), thermine (0.1-0.2 mM), spermine (0.2 mM), thermospermine (0.4 mM), and sperminediol (0.75 mM). Spermidine and putrescine were less capable of producing oligomers. PEG and polyamines elevated the ligation temperature by HB8 DNA ligase. The optimum temperature of blunt-end ligation was about 65 degrees C.