Taq Polymerases

Taq polymerase is a staple enzyme in molecular biology, driving many PCR-based applications. First isolated from the bacterial thermophile Thermus aquatics, commercial Taq is a heat-stable recombinant 94-kDa enzyme with an optimal 5’-3’ polymerase activity between 75-80 °C in the presence of a magnesium cofactor. At 72 °C it can replicate a DNA strand of 1000 base pairs in less than 10 seconds. Taq lacks 3’-5’ exonuclease activity and is prone to errors at a rate of around 1 per 3,700 bases. Aside from PCR, Taq is also widely used in TA cloning due to its ability to leave 3’ overhangs. Some commercial modifications to consider include: “High Fidelity” with the recombinant addition of a 3’-5’ proofreading activity, and a “Hot Start” feature to reduce non-specific amplification. While modified Taq tends to be slightly more expensive, some companies offer high volume discounts. With those caveats in mind, the average price for standard Taq polymerases without volume discounts can range around $0.57 per reaction or $0.32 per unit. Visit the supplier page for more detailed information, including enzyme mix components and reaction protocols.