DUTP BASED COMPOSITIONS FOR REDUCING PRIMER-AGGREGATE FORMATION DURING NUCLEIC ACID AMPLIFICATION

摘要

Methods and compositions are provided for enhanced specificity and sensitivity of amplification reaction mixtures. Compositions in accordance with the present invention provide for reduced formation of primer-aggregates during amplification reactions. Reaction mixes include dNTPs, where a portion of the dNTPs has been replaced with an unconventional nucleotide, e.g., dUTP. Unconventional nucleotide concentrations are typically between 10 % to 50 % of the concentration of one of the standard dNTP. In some compositions the unconventional nucleotide is dUTP which replaces from about 10 % to about 50 % of the dTTP in the dNTP mix.