Improved PCR performance using mutant Tpa-S DNA polymerases from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Thermococcus pacificus

We previously reported that Tpa-S DNA polymerase (constructed via fusion of the Sso7d DNA binding protein to the C-terminus of Thermococcus pacificus (Tpa) DNA polymerase) is more efficient in long and rapid PCR than wild-type Tpa, Taq, or Pfu DNA polymerases. However, Tpa-S DNA polymerase had a low yield of PCR products compared with commercialized Taq or Pfu DNA polymerases. To improve the yield of PCR products, mutant Tpa-S DNA polymerases were created via site-directed mutagenesis. In this study, we have targeted the N213 residue in the Exo II motif and the K501 residue in the Pol III motif. The mutant Tpa-S DNA polymerases showed enhanced PCR yields compared to that of the Tpa-S DNA polymerase. Specifically, the double mutant Tpa-S N213D/K501R DNA polymerase had an approximately three-fold increase in the yield of 8-10kb PCR products over that of the Tpa-S DNA polymerase, and catalyzed amplification of a 12kb PCR product using a lambda template with an extension time of 30s. Even though the mutation is in the Exo II motif, the error rate of the double mutant Tpa-S N213D/K501R (2.79×10^-5) was nearly the same as that seen in the Pfu DNA polymerase (2.70×10^-5).