POLYMERASE ENZYME FROM PHAGE T4

1 . A polymerase enzyme according to SEQ ID NO. 1 or any polymerase that shares at least 70%, 80%, 90%, 95% or, 98% amino acid sequence identity thereto, comprising the following mutation(s):

i. at position 412 of SEQ ID NO. 1: serine (S), glutamine (Q), tyrosine (Y) or phenylalanine (F) and/or (L412S, L412Q, L412Y, L412F)

ii. at position 413 of SEQ ID NO. 1: glycine (G), alanine (A), serine (S) and/or (Y413G, Y413A, Y413S),

iii. at position 414 of SEQ ID NO. 1: serine (S), valine (V), isoleucine (I), cysteine (C), alanine (A) (P414S, P414I, P414V, P414C, P414A)

wherein the enzyme has little or no 3′-5′ exonuclease activity.

2 . The polymerase enzyme of claim 1 , wherein the polymerase is from an organism belonging to the family of T4 phage DNA polymerases.

3 . The polymerase enzyme according to claim 1 , wherein the polymerase enzyme shares 95% or 98% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO. 1 and comprises the following mutations, (i) L412S, Y413G, and P414S; and comprises mutations selected from the consisting of I472V, F476D, G743R, I583V, L567M, G719K, F487D, and N555Y.

4 . The polymerase enzyme according to claim 1 , wherein the polymerase enzyme comprises the L412S mutation, the Y413G mutation and the P414S mutation and optionally comprises one or more of the following additional mutations D219A, and N555L.

5 . The polymerase enzyme according to claim 1 , wherein the polymerase enzyme shares 95% or 98% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO. 1 and comprises (i) the L412S mutation, the Y413G mutation, the P414S mutation and (ii) a N555L mutation.

6 . The polymerase enzyme according to claim 1 , wherein the enzyme shares 95% or 98% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO. 1 and comprises the L412S mutation, the Y413G mutation, the P414S mutation and a I472V mutation.

7 . The polymerase enzyme according to claim 1 , wherein the polymerase enzyme shares 95% or 98% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO. 1 and comprises (i) the L412S mutation, the Y413G mutation, the P414S mutation and (ii) a I472V mutation, and a F476D mutation.

8 . The polymerase enzyme according to claim 1 , wherein the polymerase enzyme has an amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NOs: 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8.

9 . The polymerase enzyme according to claim 1 , wherein the polymerase enzyme exhibits an increased rate of incorporation of nucleotides which have been modified at the 3′ sugar hydroxyl such that the substituent is larger in size than the naturally occurring 3′ hydroxyl group, compared to the control polymerase.

10 . The polymerase enzyme according to claim 1 , wherein some or all cysteine residues are substituted by other amino acids, wherein the other amino acids are serine, alanine, threonine or valine.

11 . A nucleic acid molecule encoding a polymerase enzyme according to claim 1 having a sequence according to SEQ ID NOs: 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8.

12 . An expression vector comprising the nucleic acid encoding any of the molecules of claim 11 .

13 . A method for incorporating nucleotides which have been modified at the 3′ sugar hydroxyl such that the substituent is larger in size than the naturally occurring 3′ hydroxyl group into DNA comprising the following substances (i) a polymerase enzyme according to claim 1 , (ii) template DNA, (iii) one or more nucleotides, which have been modified at the 3′ sugar hydroxyl such that the substituent is larger in size than the naturally occurring 3′ hydroxyl group.

14 . Use of a polymerase enzyme according to claim 1 for DNA sequencing, DNA labeling, primer extension, amplification or the like.

15 . A kit comprising a polymerase enzyme according to claim 1 .