Purification and properties of Aquifex aeolicus DNA polymerase expressed in Escherichia coli.

The gene encoding Aquifex aeolicus (Aae) DNA polymerase was expressed under the control of the trp promoter on a high-copy plasmid, pTRPNS, in Escherichia coli. The expressed enzyme was purified 11-fold with a 13.8% yield and a specific activity of 2268.3 U mg(-1). The optimum pH of the enzyme was 6.8-7.2. The optimal concentrations of KCl and Mg(2+) were 20-30 mM and 4-5 mM, respectively. Aae DNA polymerase contained a double-strand-dependent 3'-->5' proofreading exonuclease activity but lacked any detectable 5'-->3' exonuclease activity.