Optimal conditions and specific characteristics of Vent exo- DNA polymerase in ligation-mediated polymerase chain reaction protocols

Biochem Cell Biol. 2005 Apr;83(2):147-65. doi: 10.1139/o04-134.

Abstract

An optimized procedure for the ligation-mediated polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique using Thermococcus litoralis exo- DNA polymerase (Vent exo-) was developed. The optimal dosage of Vent exo- at the primer extension and PCR amplification steps as well as the optimal DNA quantity to use were established. We showed that Vent exo- can efficiently create the blunt-ended termini required for subsequent linker ligation. Vent exo- proves to be more efficient than Pyrococcus furiosus exo- (Pfu exo-) for this task. Vent exo- resolves highly GC-rich sequence substantially better than Thermus aquaticus DNA polymerase (Taq) and with a similar efficiency as Pfu exo-. The DNA/DNA polymerase activity ratio is significantly higher for Vent exo- than for Pfu exo-, which is reflected by the sensibility of Vent exo- in efficiently amplifying genomic DNA. Furthermore, the range of efficiency of Vent exo- demonstrates the importance of conducting evaluative testing to identify the optimal dosage of use of this polymerase to obtain successful PCR amplification. Optimal MgSO4 concentrations to use with Vent exo- were established. Our results show that Vent exo- DNA polymerase produces bands of uniform and strong intensity and can efficiently be used for the analysis of DNA in living cells by ligation-mediated PCR.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • DNA / chemistry*
  • DNA / genetics*
  • DNA / metabolism
  • DNA Ligases / metabolism*
  • DNA Primers / genetics
  • DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / metabolism*
  • Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein
  • GC Rich Sequence / genetics
  • Humans
  • JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / genetics
  • JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Male
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction*
  • Pyrococcus furiosus / enzymology
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Taq Polymerase / metabolism
  • Temperature
  • Templates, Genetic
  • Thermococcus / enzymology*
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / metabolism

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • FMR1 protein, human
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein
  • DNA
  • JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Taq Polymerase
  • Tli polymerase
  • DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase
  • DNA Ligases