title: Engineered DNA polymerase improves PCR results for plastid DNA.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Secondary metabolites often inhibit PCR and sequencing reactions in extractions from plant material, especially from silica-dried and herbarium material. A DNA polymerase that is tolerant to inhibitors improves PCR results. •
  
  
  RESULTS
  A novel DNA amplification system, including a DNA polymerase engineered via directed evolution for improved tolerance to common plant-derived PCR inhibitors, was evaluated and PCR parameters optimized for three species. An additional 31 species were then tested with the engineered enzyme and optimized protocol, as well as with regular Taq polymerase. •
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PCR products and high-quality sequence data were obtained for 96% of samples for rbcL and 79% for matK, compared to 29% and 21% with regular Taq polymerase.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Plant Biology, Molecular and Cell Biology Program, Porter Hall 315, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio 45701 USA.
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schori
authors.affiliation: Kapa Biosystems, 600 W. Cummings Park, Suite 2250, Woburn, Massachusetts 01801 USA.
authors.forename: Maryke
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Appel
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Plant Biology, Molecular and Cell Biology Program, Porter Hall 315, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio 45701 USA ; 5833 Stearns Road, North Olmsted, Ohio 44070 USA.
authors.forename: AlexaRae
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kitko
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Plant Biology, Molecular and Cell Biology Program, Porter Hall 315, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio 45701 USA.
authors.forename: Allan M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Showalter
keywords: PCR inhibition; directed evolution; engineered KAPA3G DNA Polymerase; matK; rbcL