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Product description
The Thermo Scientific™ Phusion™ Plus DNA Polymerase is a proofreading DNA polymerase that combines a novel Pyrococcus-like enzyme
with a processivity-enhancing domain and universal primer annealing feature. The polymerase is inactive at ambient temperatures due
to an Abody™ molecule mediated hot start mechanism, allowing reaction setup and storage of pre-assembled PCR reactions at room
temperature. Enzyme activity is restored after the initial denaturation step.
Primer annealing is performed at 60°C because proprietary additives in the reaction buer stabilize primer-template duplexes during
annealing, and eliminate the need to optimize annealing temperature for each primer pair.
The polymerase is ideal for applications where accuracy is important (cloning, sequencing, site directed mutagenesis), and possesses the
following characteristics:
• 5´→3´ DNA polymerase activity.
• 3´→5´ exonuclease activity.
• Generates blunt end amplification products.
• Amplifies up to 10 kb from genomic DNA, and 20 kb from low complexity DNA.
• Works with both AT and GC rich targets (Phusion™ GC Enhancer is provided for amplicons with >65% GC content).
• >100X fidelity compared to Taq polymerase.
Contents and storage
Component
Phusion™ Plus DNA Polymerase50 µL250 µL4 × 250 µL
Phusion™ GC Enhancer1.25 mL4 × 1.25 mL16 × 1.25 mL
F630S
100 reactions
F630L
500 reactions
F630XL
4 × 500 reactions
Storage
–25°C to –15°CPhusion™ Plus Buer1.25 mL5 × 1.25 mL20 × 1.25 mL
General guidelines
• Use 98°C for denaturation.
• Use 15–30 s/kb for extension.
• Use 200 µM of each dNTP. Do not use dUTP (The polymerase cannot read through dUTP-derivatives or dITP in the template strand,
thus primers and dNTP mixes containing such nucleotides are not compatible).
• Carefully mix and centrifuge all tubes before opening to ensure homogeneity and improve recovery. Prepare a master mix for the
appropriate number of samples to be amplified.
• Pipette polymerase carefully and gently, as the high glycerol content (50%) in the storage buer may otherwise lead to pipetting
errors.
• Take precautions to avoid cross-contamination by using aerosol-resistant barrier tips and analyzing PCR products in a separate area
from PCR assembly.
For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.
Page 2
Required materials not supplied
• Template: genomic DNA, plasmid, phage DNA, cDNA
• Forward and reverse primers
• 10 mM dNTP Mix (Cat. No. R0191)
• TopVision Agarose Tablets (Cat no. R2801)
• GeneRuler 1 kb DNA Ladder (Cat.no. SM0311)
• 0.2 or 0.5-mL nuclease-free microcentrifuge tubes
• Water, nuclease-free
Perform PCR
1. Prepare reaction by adding the following components in the order listed in the following table.
Component
5X Phusion™ Plus Buer
[1]
20 µL rxn50 µL rxnFinal conc.
4 µL10 µL1X
Forward primerx µLx µL0.5 µM
Reverse primerx µLx µL0.5 µM
10 mM dNTPs0.4 µL1 µL200 µM each
Template DNAx µLx µL
5X Phusion™ GC Enhancer
[3]
4 µL10 µL1X
Phusion™ Plus DNA Polymerase0.2 µL0.5 µL—
Water, nuclease freeadd to 20 µLadd to 50 µL—
[1]
Provides 1.7 mM MgCl2 at 1X concentration.
[2]
Reduce the primer concentration to 0.2 µM final concentration when amplifying >5 kb targets from genomic DNA and for multiplex reactions.
[3]
(Optional) recommended only for targets with >65% GC content.
2. Run a thermal cycler program set to the following parameters according to the protocol to be performed.
a. 3-step protocol
Cycle step
Temp.TimeCycles
Initial Denaturation98°C30 s1
Denaturation
Annealing
Extension
98°C
60°C
72°C
5–10 s
10 s
15–30 s/kb
[2]
[2]
0.01–10 ng plasmid
5–100 ng genomic DNA
25–35
Final extension
72°C
4°C
5 min
Hold
b. 2-step protocol (for primers >30 nt in length)
Cycle step
Temp.TimeCycles
Initial Denaturation98°C30 s1
Denaturation
Annealing/extension
Final extension
98°C
72°C
72°C
4°C
5–10 s
15–30 s/kb
5 min
Hold
2 Phusion
1
Hold
25–35
1
Hold
™
Plus DNA Polymerase User Guide
Page 3
Optimization strategies
Primers
• Design 18- to 35-mers with 40–60% GC content. Avoid primer pairs with complementarity at 3' ends or >10°C melting temperature
(Tm) dierence.
• Verify primer complementarity to a single template region using programs for sequence alignment. Online primer design programs
such as the Invitrogen™ OligoPerfect™ Designer can be helpful.
• Recommended final primer concentration is 0.5 µM and can be varied in a range of 0.1–1.0 μM, if needed. Lower primer
concentrations (0.2 µM final) are recommended for amplification of >5 kb targets from high complexity DNA and multiplex reactions.
Template
• Low complexity DNA: Optimal amount of low complexity DNA (plasmid, phage or BAC DNA) is 0.01–10 ng per 50 μL reaction,
although it can be varied from 0.1 pg to 50 ng per 50 μL reaction.
• Genomic DNA: Optimal amount of genomic DNA is 5–100 ng per 50 μL reaction, although it can be varied from 0.1–250 ng per
50 μL reaction. Higher template amount is recommended for long targets.
• cDNA: Optimal amount of cDNA is 0.1–1 μL of the first-strand reaction mixture per 50 μL reaction.
MgCl
2
Phusion™ Plus reaction buer provides 1.7 mM MgCl2 in the final reaction. If the primers and/or the template contain chelators such as
EDTA or EGTA, the apparent Mg2+ optimum may be shifted to higher concentrations. MgCl2 concentration can be increased up to 4.5 mM
final concentration in such cases.
Cycling parameters
The total number of PCR cycles can vary from 15 to 40, depending on target length and template amount. For low complexity templates
20–25 PCR cycles is typical; 30–35 cycles are recommended for genomic DNA.
Denaturation
• Use 98°C for denaturation. Make sure that heated lid temperature is set several degrees above 98°C to avoid sample condensation.
• 30-second initial denaturation at 98°C is sucient for most templates. The initial denaturation time can be increased up to 5 minutes
if necessary.
Annealing
• Due to unique isostabilizing molecules in the reaction buer, 60°C annealing temperature works for most primers.
• The 2-step protocol is recommended when primers without non-complementary parts are >30 nt in length, e.g., primers for sitespecific mutagenesis. In the 2-step protocol the combined annealing/extension step should be performed at 72°C.
• If amplification does not give satisfactory results, we recommend a temperature gradient. The annealing temperature can be
optimized using Applied Biosystems™ thermal cyclers, such as the ProFlex™ PCR System or the VeritiPro™ Thermal Cycler featuring
VeriFlex™ technology.
Extension
• Extension time depends on amplicon length and complexity. For low complexity DNA (e.g., plasmid, phage or BAC DNA) use an
extension time of 15 seconds per 1 kb. For high complexity genomic DNA 30 seconds per 1 kb is recommended.
• The extension step can be prolonged up to 90 sec/kb for targets up to 5 kb without negative eect on specificity. This allows to
amplify shorter and longer amplicons together using the same protocol.
Phusion™ Plus DNA Polymerase User Guide 3
Page 4
Troubleshooting
ObservationPossible causeRecommended action
No product or low yieldSub-optimal cycling parameters.Run a temperature gradient to determine optimal annealing
temperature.
Increase the total number of cycles.
Problem with reaction mix.Repeat the PCR and make sure that there are no pipetting errors.
Use fresh, high-quality dNTPs. Do not use dNTP mix containing dUTP.
Check primer design and concentration. Do not use primers
containing dUTP or dITP.
Titrate template amount, both not enough and too much template can
compromise PCR results.
Non-specific products or smeared
bands
Sub-optimal cycling parameters.Run a temperature gradient to determine optimal annealing
temperature.
Decrease extension time.
Reduce the total number of cycles.
Primer concentration too high.Reduce primer concentration.
Documentation and support
Customer and technical support
Visit thermofisher.com/support for the latest service and support information.
• Worldwide contact telephone numbers
• Product support information
– Product FAQs
– Software, patches, and updates
– Training for many applications and instruments
• Order and web support
• Product documentation
– User guides, manuals, and protocols
– Certificates of Analysis
– Safety Data Sheets (SDSs; also known as MSDSs)
Note: For SDSs for reagents and chemicals from other manufacturers, contact the manufacturer.
Limited product warranty
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Conditions of Sale at www.thermofisher.com/us/en/home/global/terms-and-conditions.html. If you have any questions, please
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The information in this guide is subject to change without notice.
DISCLAIMER: TO THE EXTENT ALLOWED BY LAW, THERMO FISHER SCIENTIFIC INC. AND/OR ITS AFFILIATE(S) WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT,
PUNITIVE, MULTIPLE, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES IN CONNECTION WITH OR ARISING FROM THIS DOCUMENT, INCLUDING YOUR USE OF IT.
Revision history: Pub. No. MAN0025053
RevisionDateDescription
A.06 April 2021Baseline for revision.
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