dNTPs (Deoxynucleotide Triphosphates)
dNTPs (Deoxynucleotide Triphosphates) are the essential, high-purity chemical building blocks required by DNA polymerases to synthesize new nucleic acid strands. They are widely used as the raw substrates in PCR, qPCR, cDNA synthesis, DNA sequencing, and molecular cloning.
Product Description
Core Components
A complete set of dNTPs typically consists of the four individual deoxynucleotides:
- dATP: Deoxyadenosine triphosphate
- dCTP: Deoxycytidine triphosphate
- dGTP: Deoxyguanosine triphosphate
- dTTP: Deoxythymidine triphosphate
Common Product Formats
Suppliers provide dNTPs in two primary formats to accommodate various experimental workflows:
- dNTP Mix: A ready-to-use, equimolar aqueous solution containing all four nucleotides (e.g., typically at 10 mM or 25 mM concentrations) pre-mixed into a single tube.
- dNTP Sets: Individual vials of each of the four nucleotides (often at higher concentrations like 100 mM), allowing researchers to create custom molar ratios if their DNA template is heavily AT- or GC-biased.
Key Product Specifications & Quality
To ensure successful amplification and sequencing, high-quality commercial dNTPs (such as those from Promega or Sigma-Aldrich) feature:
- High Purity: ≥ 99% triphosphate purity, as measured by HPLC.
- Contaminant-Free: Tested to be completely free of DNase, RNase, protease, and nickase activity.
- PCR-Inhibitor Free: Validated to not interfere with standard or long-range polymerases.
Storage & Handling
dNTPs are chemically stable but acidic in solution, so they should be neutralized to a slightly alkaline pH (typically pH 7.5) with a compound like Tris-HCl. They are most commonly supplied in ultrapure water and should be stored at -20°C.
