What is Taq polymerase and why is it used in PCR?
What is Taq polymerase and why is it used in PCR?
The DNA polymerase typically used in PCR is called Taq polymerase, after the heat-tolerant bacterium from which it was isolated (Thermus aquaticus). This heat-stability makes Taq polymerase ideal for PCR. As we’ll see, high temperature is used repeatedly in PCR to denature the template DNA, or separate its strands.
What is the difference between DNA polymerase and Taq polymerase?
DNA polymerase is an enzyme that creates new DNA from its building blocks (nucleotides). The key difference between Taq polymerase and DNA polymerase is that Taq polymerase can withstand high temperatures without denaturing while other DNA polymerases denature at high temperatures (at protein degrading temperatures).
What is Taq polymerase and where does it come from?
Taq DNA Polymerase was originally isolated from thermophilic bacterium of the Deinococcus-Thermus group located near the Lower Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park by Thomas D. Brock and Hudson Freeze, in 1969. This thriving bacterium was named Thermus aquaticus (T. aquaticus).
What does Taq stand for?
TAQ
| Acronym | Definition |
|---|---|
| TAQ | Theoretically Asked Question |
| TAQ | Trade and Quote Detail (New York Stock Exchange) |
| TAQ | Tribunal Administratif du Québec (French: Administrative Tribunal of Quebec; Canada) |
| TAQ | Trade and Quote Database (Kellogg School of Management; Northwestern University; Evanston, IL) |
Where is Taq polymerase found?
…a heat-stable DNA polymerase called Taq, an enzyme isolated from the thermophilic bacterium Thermus aquaticus, which inhabits hot springs.
Who produces Taq polymerase?
Swapping out the vestigal domain for a functional one from E. coli created a protein with proof-reading ability but a lower optimal temperature and low thermostability. Versions of the polymerase without the 5′-3′ exonuclease domain has been produced, among which Klentaq or the Stoffel fragment are best known.