Why should one use TE buffer instead of water to reconstitute DNA in random-prime labeling reaction?
A. Use of TE buffer is essential to obtain the maximum incorporation performance. EDTA from the TE buffer chelates traces of heavy metals found in water and along the surface of plasticware. By doing so, the buffer keeps the metal ions from complexing with the DNA backbone and the nucleotides, which are heavily charged with negative ions. Also, the buffer contains a higher concentration of Mg2+ ions, which maximizes the DNA polymerase activity and results in greater incorporation results.
