Modified pyrococcus polymerases and uses thereof

1. A polymerase comprising 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; and

valine at amino acid position 486 or at an amino acid position functionally equivalent to amino acid position 486.

2. The polymerase of claim 1 , further comprising 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.

3. The polymerase of claim 1 , further comprising 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.

4. The polymerase of claim 1 , further comprising 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.

5. The polymerase of claim 1 , further comprising 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.

6. The polymerase of claim 1 , further comprising 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.

7. The polymerase of claim 1 , 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.

8. The polymerase of claim 1 , which exhibits an increased rate of incorporation of modified nucleotides, relative to a control.

9. The polymerase of claim 1 , 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. AV5 , 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. 11140-A29, Pyrococcus sp. 11140-A30, Pyrococcus sp.L1140-A31, Pyrococcus sp.L1140-A32, Pyrococcus sp. MO-A33, Pyrococcus sp.L1140-A34, Pyrococcus sp. LMO-A35, Pyrococcus sp. LMO-A36, Pyrococcus sp.L1140-A37, Pyrococcus sp. 11140-A38, Pyrococcus sp. 11140-A39, Pyrococcus sp. 11140-A40, Pyrococcus sp. 11140-A41, Pyrococcus sp.L1140-A42, Pyrococcus sp. M24D 13, 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. ST04, 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. VB112, 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. ST04, or Pyrococcus sp. ST700 polymerase.

10. The polymerase of claim 1 , wherein the polymerase is a Pyrococcus abyssi or Pyrococcus horikoshii polymerase.

11. The polymerase according to claim 1 , which is capable of incorporating modified nucleotides at reaction temperatures across the range of 40° C. to 80° C.

12. The polymerase according to claim 7 , comprising 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 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, 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 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.

13. The polymerase of claim 1 , 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; D141A; E143A; T144A; L409A; Y410G; A486V; T515S; T591I; K477W; K478A; and A640L; or

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

14. A polymerase comprising 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;

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.

15. A method of incorporating a modified nucleotide into a nucleic acid sequence comprising allowing the following components to interact: (i) a nucleic acid template, (ii) a nucleotide solution, and (iii) a polymerase, wherein the polymerase is a polymerase of claim 1 .

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the polymerase is capable of incorporating a modified nucleotide into a nucleic acid sequence in stringent hybridization conditions.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the polymerase is capable of incorporating a modified nucleotide into a nucleic acid sequence at 55° C. to 80° C.

18. A kit comprising the polymerase of claim 14 .