Solubilized phospholipids for stabilizing nucleic acid polymerases
View Patent ↗Compositions and methods are provided that relate to solubilized phospholipids and their use in stabilizing nucleic acid polymerases. For example, a phospholipid with a tail containing at least 8 carbons can be solubilized in the presence of an amphipathic molecule.
1. A composition comprising: a thermostable polymerase in a buffer comprising a solubilized long-chain phospholipid, wherein the phospholipid has at least one hydrophobic tail containing 8 to 30 carbons.
2. A composition according to claim 1 , further comprising an amphipathic solubilizer.
3. A composition according to claim 2 , wherein the amphipathic molecule is a lipid having a hydrophobic tail containing no more than 8 carbons.
4. A composition according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one long-chain phospholipid is a phosphatidylcholine.
5. A composition according to claim 1 , wherein the activity of the polymerase is enhanced in the presence of the solubilized phospholipid, capable of being measured in a replication assay by incorporation of deoxynucleoside triphosphate.
6. A composition according to claim 5 , wherein the enhancement is at least 3-fold.
7. A kit, comprising:
a thermostable polymerase in a buffer containing a solubilized phospholipid having 8 to 30 carbons and a stabilizer.
8. A kit according to claim 7 , wherein the stabilizer is a lipid having a hydrophobic tail containing no more than 8 carbons.
9. The composition of claim 1 , wherein said thermostable polymerase is a Taq polymerase.
10. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the phospholipid has at least one hydrophobic tail containing 8 to 20 carbons.