Apex™ Hot Start DNA Polymerase is a recombinant form of Apex Taq DNA Polymerase complexed with a propriety inhibitor that blocks polymerase activity at ambient temperatures. Full activity is restored after an incubation step at 95ºC that releases the inhibitor from the active site of the polymerase. As a result, only the region of interest is amplified and non-specifics such as primer-dimers and mis-primed products are significantly reduced. This automatic “hot start” allows assembly of reactions at room temperature and provides increased sensitivity, specificity and yield. The use of the inhibitor helps reduce PCR optimization requirements, reaction set-up time and risk of contamination thereby improving PCR results.

Apex Hot Start Taq leaves 'A' overhangs, making its reaction products ideal for use in TA cloning experiments. Two propriety buffer systems are included in each kit. Buffer I is a 10X ammonium buffer and Buffer II is a 10X balanced KCl/NH4 buffer.