Optimal PCR Cycling for High-Fidelity DNA Polymerases

PCR Cycling comparison between TransBionovo’s TransStart® FastPfu and FastPfu FLY with competitor High-Fidelity DNA Polymerases.

PCR reaction setup

Genomic DNA samples were given to us by researchers in Montreal. The purified human blood gDNA was described in PCR Success Story #8 and the 293T ”quick ‘n dirty” gDNA sample was from a researcher at the Montreal Neurological Institute.

20 ul reactions were setup on ice as follows:

• ddH2O up to 20 ul
• 5x buffer (respective buffers): 4 ul
• 0.2 mM dNTPs
• 0.2 uM hMC2R forward primer / 0.5 uM hMC2R forward primer (for Phusion/Q5)
• 0.2 uM hMC2R reverse primer / 0.5 uM hMC2R reverse primer (for Phusion/Q5)
• Roughly 20 ng gDNA (2 ul of diluted gDNA)
• 1 u of FastPfu or FastPfu FLY / 0.4 u of Phusion or Q5

FastPfu and FastPfu FLY are better High-Fidelity DNA Polymerases

Using the Transgen PCR Cycling protocol, FastPfu and FastPfu FLY perfectly amplified full-lenght human MC2R from both pure and dirty gDNA samples whereas Phusion® and Q5® failed to do so specifically.

Using the Phusion/Q5 PCR Cycling protocol, FastPfu and FastPfu FLY perfectly amplified full-lenght human MC2R from both pure and dirty gDNA samples. Phusion® and Q5® also amplified MC2R more efficiently and specifically than with using the Transgen PCR Cycling protocol. However, a small amount of non-specific amplification is observable.

Regardless of the PCR cycling protocol, FastPfu and FastPfu FLY offer a6°C annealing temperature (Ta) window for perfect DNA maplification by PCR.

Why troubleshoot your PCR reactions when you can choose permissive DNA polymerases such as TransGen Biotech’s FastPfu and FastPfu FLY?!

DNA polymerase PCR setup and cycling according to respective datasheets:

1- TransStart FastPfu (AP221):

Initial denaturation: 2 min at 95 °C

35 cycles:

• Denaturation: 95 °C for 30s
• Annealing: Tm -5 °C for 30 s
• Extension: 72 °C at 2-4 kb/min

Final extension : 72 °C for 5 min

2- TransStart FastPfu FLY (AP231):

Initial denaturation: 2 min at 95 °C

35 cycles

• Denaturation: 95 °C for 30s
• Annealing: Tm -5 °C for 30 s
• Extension: 72 °C at 2-6 kb/min

Final extension : 72 °C for 5 min

3- Phusion HotStart II high-fidelity DNA Polymerase:

Initial denaturation: 30s at 98 °C

35 cycles

• Denaturation: 98 °C for 10s
• Annealing: Tm +3 °C for 10-30 s
• Extension: 72 °C at 1.5 to 2 kb/min

Final extension : 72 °C for 2 min

4- Q5 high-fidelity DNA Polymerase:

Initial denaturation: 30s at 98 °C

35 cycles

• Denaturation: 98 °C for 10s
• Annealing: Tm +3 °C for 10-30 s
• Extension: 72 °C at 2 to 3 kb/min

Final extension : 72 °C for 2 min