cDNA SYNTHESIS USING A REVERSIBLY INACTIVATED REVERSE TRANSCRIPTASE

摘要

The present invention provides compositions and methods for a reverse transcription reaction using a reversibly inactivated reverse transcriptase enzyme. The reversibly inactivated reverse transcriptase enzyme results from a chemical modification which inactivates the reverse transcriptase enzyme. The activity of the reverse transcriptase enzyme is recovered by an incubation of the reaction mixture at elevated temperature prior to, or as part of the reverse transcription reaction. The reverse transcriptase enzyme of the present invention provides for a significant reduction in non-specific reverse transcription from template nucleic acid molecules because the formulation of the reaction mixture does not support the formation of reverse transcription products prior to activation of the reverse transcriptase.