Mutation S543N in the thumb subdomain of the <i>Taq</i> DNA polymerase large fragment suppresses pausing associated with the template structure

Abstract

Substitution of Asn for the conserved Ser543 in the thumb subdomain of the Taq DNA polymerase large fragment (Klentaq DNA polymerase) prevents pausing during DNA synthesis and allows the enzyme to circumvent template regions with a complex structure. The mutant enzyme (KlentaqN DNA polymerase) provides specific PCR amplification and sequencing of difficult templates, e.g. those with a high GC% content or strong secondary structure.