Understanding Taq DNA Polymerase in 60 Seconds

Taq DNA Polymerase is a thermostable enzyme derived from the thermophilic bacterium Thermus aquaticus. It is widely used in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) process for amplifying specific DNA sequences. Known for its ability to withstand high temperatures, Taq DNA Polymerase has a half-life of more than 40 minutes at 95°C, making it suitable for PCR applications. The enzyme catalyzes DNA synthesis in the 5'→3' direction and lacks proofreading activity, which can lead to errors in DNA synthesis. Despite these limitations, Taq DNA Polymerase is commonly used for routine PCR amplification of DNA fragments up to 5 kb, high-throughput PCR, and DNA labeling.