BSA in PCR reaction - (Dec/03/2012 )

Hallo all,

does anyone here add BSA in pcr reactions?
I really dont see the point if this since I found out that it denatures at 55 to 70°C.



Any insights on this?

BSA increases PCR yields from low purity templates (works against inhibitors). It also prevents adhesion of enzymes to tube and tip surfaces, i.e. BSA competes with the polymerase to bind to these surfaces and traps inhibitors...that's what I heard about it and for these functions a non-denatured protein is presumably not necessary (?). It's surely worth a try and I got some reactions working with it...