Taq polymerase ("Taq Pol," or simply "Taq", from "Thermus aquaticus") is a thermostable polymerase used polymerase chain reaction to check for the presence or absence of a gene by creating a DNA fragment. First isolated from Thermus aquaticus, a bacterium that lives in hot springs and hydrothermal vents, Taq was identified as the first polymerase able to withstand the denaturing conditions required during PCR. Its enzymatic activity halflife at 95 degrees Celsius is 1.6 hours.
One of Taq polymerases major drawbacks is its low replication fidelity. Without a 3' to 5' exonuclease proofreading capacity to replace an accidental mismatch in the newly synthesized DNA strand, Taq polymerase cannot be used in experiments where an identical genetic sequence is required, such as in molecular cloning. Commerically sold Taq DNA polymerase has an error rate of one in 10,000 nucleotides and typically produces 16% of mutated 1kb (kilobasepair) PCR products in a reaction. It can amplify a 1kb strand of DNA in roughly 30 seconds at 72°C.
Taq DNA polymerase also yields fragments with A (Adenine) overhangs. This is particularly useful in 'TA Cloning,' whereby a cloning vector (such as a plasmid) is used which has T (Thymine) overhangs which complement with the A overhangs of the PCR Product, thus increasing the ligation efficiency.
Pfu DNA polymerase is often used instead of, or in conjunction with, Taq polymerase. This enzyme is more thermostable and proofreads DNA, resulting in a lower error rate.
See also
Taq DNA polymerase replaced E.Coli DNA Polymerase because of the tempature conditions of PCR.