Modified

1. A method of sequencing a nucleic acid sequence comprising:

a) hybridizing a nucleic acid template with a primer to form a primer-template hybridization complex;

b) contacting the primer-template hybridization complex with a DNA polymerase and nucleotides, wherein each of the nucleotides comprises a detectable label;

c) subjecting the primer-template hybridization complex to conditions which enable the polymerase to incorporate a nucleotide into the primer-template hybridization complex to form a modified primer-template hybridization complex;

d) detecting the detectable label; thereby sequencing a nucleic acid sequence;

wherein the DNA polymerase comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least 80% identical to a continuous 500 amino acid sequence within SEQ ID NO: 1; comprising the following amino acids:

an alanine at amino acid position 409 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 409;

a glycine at amino acid position 410 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 410;

a proline at amino acid position 411 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 411.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polymerase comprising the following amino acids: an alanine at amino acid position 409 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 409; a glycine at amino acid position 410 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 410; a proline at amino acid position 411 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 411; and an leucine or valine at amino acid position 486 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 486.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the polymerase further comprises a glutamic acid or an aspartic acid at amino acid position 153 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 153.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polymerase comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least 80% identical to a continuous 500 amino acid sequence within SEQ ID NO: 1; further comprising the following amino acids:

an alanine at amino acid position 141 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 141; and

an alanine at amino acid position 143 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 143.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the polymerase further comprises at least one of the following amino acids:

an alanine at amino acid position 129 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 129;

an alanine at amino acid position 141 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 141;

an alanine at amino acid position 143 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 143;

an alanine at amino acid position 144 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 144;

a glutamic acid at amino acid position 153 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 153;

an alanine at amino acid position 215 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 215;

an alanine at amino acid position 315 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 315;

an alanine at amino acid positions 215 and 315 or at amino acid positions functionally equivalent to amino acid positions 215 and 315;

a serine at amino acid position 515 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 515;

a leucine at amino acid position 522 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 522;

an isoleucine at amino acid position 591 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 591;

a tryptophan at amino acid position 477 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 477;

an alanine at amino acid position 477 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 477;

an alanine at amino acid position 478 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 478;

a serine at amino acid position 479 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 479;

a tryptophan at amino acid position 477 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 477 and an alanine at amino acid position 478 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 478;

an alanine at amino acid position 477 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 477, an alanine at amino acid position 478 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 478 and a serine at amino acid position 479 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 479;

an alanine at amino acid position 603 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 603;

a leucine at amino acid position 640 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 640;

a glutamic acid at amino acid position 713 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 713;

an alanine at amino acid position 714 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 714;

an alanine at amino acid position 719 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 719;

an alanine at amino acid position 720 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 720; or

an alanine at amino acid position 736 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 736.

6. The method of claim 2 , wherein the polymerase further comprises at least one of the following:

an alanine at amino acid position 144 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 144;

a serine at amino acid position 515 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 515;

an isoleucine at amino acid position 591 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 591;

an alanine at amino acid position 603 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 603;

a leucine at amino acid position 640 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 640; or

a glutamic acid at amino acid position 713 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 713.

7. The method of claim 2 , wherein the polymerase further comprises at least one of the following:

an alanine at amino acid position 144 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 144;

a serine at amino acid position 515 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 515;

an isoleucine at amino acid position 591 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 591; or

a leucine at amino acid position 640 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 640.

8. The method of claim 2 , wherein the polymerase further comprises at least one of the following:

an alanine at amino acid position 144 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 144;

a valine at amino acid position 486 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 486;

a serine at amino acid position 515 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 515;

an isoleucine at amino acid position 591 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 591.

9. The method of claim 2 , wherein the polymerase comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least 90% identical to a continuous 500 amino acid sequence within SEQ ID NO: 1.

10. The method of claim 2 , wherein the polymerase exhibits an increased rate of incorporation of modified nucleotides, relative to a control.

11. The method of claim 2 , wherein the polymerase is selected from a Pyrococcus abyssi, Pyrococcus endeavori, Pyrococcus furiosus, Pyrococcus glycovorans, Pyrococcus horikoshii, Pyrococcus kukulkanii, Pyrococcus woesei, Pyrococcus yayanosii, Pyrococcus sp., Pyrococcus sp. 12/1, Pyrococcus sp. 121, Pyrococcus sp. 303, Pyrococcus sp. 304, Pyrococcus sp. 312, Pyrococcus sp. 32-4, Pyrococcus sp. 321, Pyrococcus sp. 322, Pyrococcus sp. 323, Pyrococcus sp. 324, Pyrococcus sp. 95-12-1, Pyrococcus sp. AVS, Pyrococcus sp. Ax99-7, Pyrococcus sp. C2, Pyrococcus sp. EX2, Pyrococcus sp. Fla95-Pc, Pyrococcus sp. GB-3A, Pyrococcus sp. GB-D, Pyrococcus sp. GBD, Pyrococcus sp. GI-H, Pyrococcus sp. GI-J, Pyrococcus sp. GIL, Pyrococcus sp. HT3, Pyrococcus sp. JT1, Pyrococcus sp. LMO-A29, Pyrococcus sp. LMO-A30, Pyrococcus sp. LMO-A31, Pyrococcus sp. LMO-A32, Pyrococcus sp. MO-A33, Pyrococcus sp. LMO-A34, Pyrococcus sp. LMO-A35, Pyrococcus sp. LMO-A36, Pyrococcus sp. LMO-A37, Pyrococcus sp. LMO-A38, Pyrococcus sp. LMO-A39, Pyrococcus sp. LMO-A40, Pyrococcus sp. LMO-A41, Pyrococcus sp. LMO-A42, Pyrococcus sp. M24D13, Pyrococcus sp. MA2.31, Pyrococcus sp. MA2.32, Pyrococcus sp. MA2.34, Pyrococcus sp. MV1019, Pyrococcus sp. MV4, Pyrococcus sp. MV7, Pyrococcus sp. MZ14, Pyrococcus sp. MZ4, Pyrococcus sp. NA2, Pyrococcus sp. NS102-T, Pyrococcus sp. P12.1, Pyrococcus sp. Pikanate 5017, Pyrococcus sp. PK 5017, Pyrococcus sp. STO4, Pyrococcus sp. ST700, Pyrococcus sp. Tc-2-70, Pyrococcus sp. Tc95-7C-I, Pyrococcus sp. TC95-7C-S, Pyrococcus sp. Tc95_6, Pyrococcus sp. V211, Pyrococcus sp. V212, Pyrococcus sp. V221, Pyrococcus sp. V222, Pyrococcus sp. V231, Pyrococcus sp. V232, Pyrococcus sp. V61, Pyrococcus sp. V62, Pyrococcus sp. V63, Pyrococcus sp. V72, Pyrococcus sp. V73, Pyrococcus sp. VB 112, Pyrococcus sp. VB113, Pyrococcus sp. VB81, Pyrococcus sp. VB82, Pyrococcus sp. VB83, Pyrococcus sp. VB85, Pyrococcus sp. VB86, Pyrococcus sp. VB93 polymerase, Pyrococcus furiosus DSM 3638, Pyrococcus sp. GE23, Pyrococcus sp. GI-H, Pyrococcus sp. NA2, Pyrococcus sp. STO4, or Pyrococcus sp. ST700 polymerase.

12. The method of claim 2 , wherein the polymerase is a Pyrococcus abyssi or Pyrococcus horikoshii polymerase.

13. The method of claim 2 , wherein the polymerase is capable of incorporating modified nucleotides at reaction temperatures across the range of 40° C. to C.

14. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the polymerase comprises the following amino acids:

an alanine at amino acid position 129, 141, 143, 144, and 409 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 129, 141, 143, 144, and 409, a glycine at amino acid position 410 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 410, a proline at amino acid position 411 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 411, a valine at amino acid position 486 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 486, a threonine at amino acid position 515 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 515, an isoleucine at amino acid position 591 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 591, and a leucine at amino acid position 640 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 640;

an alanine at amino acid position 129, 141, 143, 144, and 409 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 129, 141, 143, 144, and 409, a glycine at amino acid position 410 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 410, a proline at amino acid position 411 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 411, a leucine at amino acid position 486 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 486, a threonine at amino acid position 515 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 515, and an isoleucine at amino acid position 591 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 591;

an alanine at amino acid position 129, 141, 143, 144, and 409 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 129, 141, 143, 144, and 409, a glycine at amino acid position 410 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to Page 8 of 14 amino acid position 410, a proline at amino acid position 411 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 411, a valine at amino acid position 486 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 486, a threonine at amino acid position 515 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 515, an isoleucine at amino acid position 591 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 591, and an alanine at amino acid position 603 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 603;

an alanine at amino acid position 129, 141, 143, 144, and 409 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 129, 141, 143, 144, and 409, a glycine at amino acid position 410 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 410, a proline at amino acid position 411 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 411, a valine at amino acid position 486 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 486, a threonine at amino acid position 515 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 515, an isoleucine at amino acid position 591 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 591, a tryptophan at amino acid position 477 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 477, and an alanine at amino acid position 478 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 478;

an alanine at amino acid position 129, 141, 143, 144, and 409 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 129, 141, 143, 144, and 409, a glycine at amino acid position 410 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 410, a valine at amino acid position 486 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 486, a serine at amino acid position 515 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 515, and an isoleucine at amino acid position 591 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 591; or

an alanine at amino acid position 129, 141, 143, 144, and 409 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 129, 141, 143, 144, and 409, a glycine at amino acid position 410 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 410, a tryptophan at amino acid position 477 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 477, an alanine at amino acid position 478 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 478, a valine at amino acid position 486 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 486, a serine at amino acid position 515 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 515, an isoleucine at amino acid position 591 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 591, and a leucine at amino acid position 640 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 640.

15. The method of claim 2 , wherein the polymerase further comprises a serine at amino acid position 515 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 515.

16. The method of claim 2 , wherein the polymerase comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least 99% identical to a continuous 500 amino acid sequence within SEQ ID NO: 1.

17. The method of claim 2 , wherein the polymerase comprises the following amino acid substitution mutations relative to SEQ ID NO:1:

a) M129A, D141A, E143A, T144A, L409A, Y410G, A486V, T515S, T591I, A640L;

b) M129A, 141A, E143A, T144A, L409A, Y410G, A486V, T515S, T591I, K477W, K478A, A640L; or

c) M129A, D141A, E143A, T144A, L409A, Y410G, A486V, T515S, T591I, K603A, A640L.