FastDigest Bsu15I, 50 μL (50 Reactions) - FAQs

The FastDigest Buffers can be stored at 4 degrees C for at least 6 months. For long-term storage until their expiration, we recommend storing the FastDigest and FastDigest Green Buffers at -20 degrees C.

Our general recommendation is to use 5-10 µL of FastDigest enzymes with 100 µg DNA in 500 µL and 10-20 µL of the FastDigest enzymes with 200 µg DNA in 1 mL. Incubate the reaction for 16 h (or the longest recommended incubation time if the particular enzyme is prone to star activity) at the recommended temperature. Optimal conditions may vary as complete digestion of DNA depends on the nature of the particular FastDigest restriction enzymes and the DNA substrates.

The concentration of FastDigest enzymes is proprietary information. The FastDigest enzyme activity is measured by FastDigest unit (FDU): 1 µL of enzyme (1 FDU) cleaves 1 µg of DNA substrate in 5-15 min at 37 degrees C in 20 µL of 1X FastDigest buffer.

Yes, the FastDigest Buffer (Cat. No. B64) and the FastDigest Green Buffer (Cat. No. B71) can be purchased separately.

The FastDigest Green Buffer offers the same performance as the colorless FastDigest Buffer but enables direct loading of the reaction mixture on gels. The 10X FastDigest Green Buffer includes a density reagent and two tracking dyes for direct loading. The blue dye migrates with 3-5 kb DNA fragments in a 1% agarose gel and has an excitation peak of 424 nm. The yellow dye migrates faster than 10 bp DNA fragments in a 1% agarose gel and has an excitation peak of 615 nm.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Restriction Enzyme Cloning Support Center.

The FastDigest and FastDigest Green Buffers are proprietary digestion buffers which support 100% activity of all FastDigest restriction enzymes.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Restriction Enzyme Cloning Support Center.

Activity of FastDigest enzymes is defined as 1 µL of FastDigest enzyme cleaves1 µg of substrate DNA in 5 to 15 minutes in 20 µL of FastDigest buffer. This is in contrast to activity of conventional restriction enzymes which is defined as 1 unit of enzyme hydrolyzes 1 µg of lambda DNA in 60 minutes in 50 µL of optimal buffer for an enzyme.

The composition of the FastDigest buffers is proprietary.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Restriction Enzyme Cloning Support Center.

As an added convenience, BSA is included in the conventional restriction enzyme buffers, as well as the FastDigest universal buffer. This eliminates the need to add BSA in a separate step.

Yes, FastDigest restriction enzymes contain BSA.

For optimal results with fast reaction and 100% buffer compatibility, we highly recommend using FastDigest restriction enzymes in double digestion. In certain cases however, it may be possible to perform double digestion using a mix of Thermo Scientific conventional and Fastdigest restriction enzymes. For specific recommendations, please contact our technical service with detailed information about the enzymes and DNA template you plan to use.

We recommend only 2 µl 10X Buffer in digestion of unpurified PCR products in 30 ul since salts and ions from the PCR reaction would be carried over to the digestion reaction.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Restriction Enzyme Cloning Support Center.

Star activty may be contributed by:

• Prolonged incubation
• High enzyme concentration
• High glycerol concentration (usually 5% or higher)
• Small reaction volume

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Restriction Enzyme Cloning Support Center.

Unexpected cleavage patterns may be caused by the following reasons:

• Star activity of the restriction enzyme: Make sure to follow the reaction recommendations as specified in the protocol. Star activity may be improved by changing several key factors such as decreasing the reaction time, increasing the reaction volume, and decreasing the enzyme amount.

• Partial or incomplete cleavage (incomplete restriction reaction): Efficiency of the enzyme can be improved by adding more enzyme, prolonging the reaction time, or purifying DNA samples to remove inhibitory contaminants.

• Contamination with non-specific endonucleases: Non-specific endonucleases may be introduced to the DNA sample and/or the enzyme from improper handling, pipetting, etc.

•Improper reaction setup: Mix the digestion reaction thoroughly.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within ourRestriction Enzyme Cloning Support Center.

The main reason for DNA cleavage reaction failure is the presence of contaminating inhibitors in the template DNA (for example: phenol, chloroform, detergents, ethanol, excess salts, EDTA, etc.). The best way to troubleshoot is to perform control reactions:

1) negative control (experimental DNA in the reaction buffer without the restriction enzyme) to access degradation of DNA by contaminants in the DNA template and/or reaction buffer
2) positive control reaction I (digestion of highly pure control DNA with the restriction enzyme) to access reaction conditions and enzyme activity
3) positive control reaction II (highly pure control DNA + experimental DNA + Restriction Enzyme) to access possible issues with the experimental DNA.

In addition, please check for sensitivity of the restriction enzymes to template DNA methylation.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Restriction Enzyme Cloning Support Center.

To remove the enzymes without using phenol/chloroform, we would recommend silica column based purification such as GeneJET Gel Extraction and DNA Cleanup Micro Kit (Cat. Nos. K0831/2) or GeneJET PCR Purification Kit (Cat. Nos. K0701/2).

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Restriction Enzyme Cloning Support Center.

Enzymes may freeze during shipment on dry ice. This does not affect their quality as all Thermo Scientific enzymes are tested 100% active after at least three freeze-thaw cycles. For 24-48 hour delivery, enzymes may be shipped on blue ice because their quality is not affected by short exposure to 4 degrees C.

Thermo Scientific restriction enzymes are shipped with their optimal digestion buffer(s). The buffers are available separately for purchase as well.