Methods for Storing Compositions Useful for Synthesizing Nucleic Acid Molecules
In one aspect, the present invention provides methods for storing a composition useful for synthesizing nucleic acid molecules. The methods of this aspect of the invention include the steps of: (a) freezing multiple aliquots of a liquid composition comprising from 1000 units/mL to 5000 units/mL of a reverse transcriptase, or from 10,000 units/mL to 50,000 units/mL of an RNA polymerase, wherein the multiple aliquots of the liquid composition are disposed within multiple receptacles defined by a container body; and (b) a step selected from the group consisting of (1) storing the frozen aliquots at a temperature below −15° C., and (2) drying the frozen aliquots to produce dried aliquots of the composition, wherein each dried aliquot of the composition comprises an amount of water that is less than 0.1% by weight of the dried aliquot, and storing the dried aliquots at a temperature below −15° C.
1 - 51 . (canceled)
52 . A container comprising multiple receptacles, wherein at least 50% of the receptacles contain a composition selected from the group consisting of (a) a frozen liquid composition comprising from 1000 units/mL to 5000 units/mL of a reverse transcriptase, (b) a frozen liquid composition comprising from 10,000 units/mL to 50,000 units/mL of an RNA polymerase, and (c) a non-liquid composition comprising a reverse transcriptase or an RNA polymerase and an amount of water that is less than 0.1%, by weight, of the non-liquid composition.
53 . The container of claim 52 wherein at least 70% of the receptacles contain a composition selected from the group consisting of (a) a frozen liquid composition comprising from 1000 units/mL to 5000 units/mL of a reverse transcriptase, (b) a frozen liquid composition comprising from 10,000 units/mL to 50,000 units/mL of an RNA polymerase, and (c) a non-liquid composition comprising a reverse transcriptase or an RNA polymerase and an amount of water that is less than 0.1%, by weight, of the non-liquid composition.
54 . The container of claim 52 wherein at least 90% of the receptacles contain a composition selected from the group consisting of (a) a frozen liquid composition comprising from 1000 units/mL to 5000 units/mL of a reverse transcriptase, (b) a frozen liquid composition comprising from 10,000 units/mL to 50,000 units/mL of an RNA polymerase, and (c) a non-liquid composition comprising a reverse transcriptase or an RNA polymerase and an amount of water that is less than 0.1%, by weight, of the non-liquid composition.
55 . The container of claim 52 wherein all of the receptacles contain a composition selected from the group consisting of (a) a frozen liquid composition comprising from 1000 units/mL to 5000 units/mL of a reverse transcriptase, (b) a frozen liquid composition comprising from 10,000 units/mL to 50,000 units/mL of an RNA polymerase, and (c) a non-liquid composition comprising a reverse transcriptase or an RNA polymerase and an amount of water that is less than 0.1%, by weight, of the non-liquid composition.
56 . The container of claim 52 wherein at least 50% of the receptacles contain a frozen liquid composition comprising from 1000 units/mL to 5000 units/mL of a reverse transcriptase.
57 . The container of claim 52 wherein at least 50% of the receptacles contain a frozen liquid composition comprising from 10,000 units/mL to 50,000 units/mL of an RNA polymerase.
58 . The container of claim 52 wherein at least 50% of the receptacles contain a non-liquid composition comprising a reverse transcriptase or an RNA polymerase and an amount of water that is less than 0.1%, by weight, of the non-liquid composition.
59 . The container of claim 52 wherein from 10 to 100 aliquots of the composition are disposed within from 10 to 100 receptacles.
60 . The container of claim 52 wherein the container body consists essentially of plastic.
61 . The container of claim 52 wherein the container body defines 96 receptacles, and an aliquot of the composition is present within all of the receptacles.
62 . The container of claim 52 wherein the liquid composition comprises a Tris buffer, a potassium salt, a magnesium salt, at least two different nucleotides, an oligonucleotide, a reducing agent, from 1000 units/mL to 5000 units/mL of a reverse transcriptase.
63 . The container of claim 52 wherein each aliquot of the liquid composition comprises a Tris buffer, a sodium salt, a magnesium salt, at least two different nucleotides, a reducing agent, and an RNA polymerase.
64 . A composition useful for synthesizing nucleic acid molecules, said composition comprising:
(a) a reverse transcriptase;
(b) a Tris buffer;
(c) a potassium salt;
(d) a magnesium salt;
(e) two different nucleotides;
(f) an oligonucleotide;
(g) a reducing agent; and
(h) an amount of water that is less than 0.1%, by weight, of the composition.
65 . The composition of claim 64 comprising from 1 unit to 5 units of the reverse transcriptase.
66 . The composition of claim 64 further comprising an RNase inhibitor.
67 . A composition useful for synthesizing nucleic acid molecules, said composition comprising:
(a) an RNA polymerase;
(b) a Tris buffer;
(c) a sodium salt;
(d) a magnesium salt;
(e) two different nucleotides;
(f) a reducing agent; and
(g) an amount of water that is less than 0.1%, by weight, of the composition.
68 . The composition of claim 67 comprising from 10 units to 50 units of the RNA polymerase.
69 . The composition of claim 67 further comprising an RNase inhibitor.
70 . The composition of claim 67 further comprising spermidine.
71 . The composition of claim 67 further comprising an inorganic pyrophosphatase.