The present invention relates to mutant DNA polymerases that exhibit reduced discrimination against labeled nucleotides into polynucleotides. The DNA polymerases of the invention have at least one mutation in the nucleotide label interaction region of the enzyme such the mutation results in reduced discrimination against labeled nucleotides. The nucleotide label interaction regions are located at portions of the O-helix, the K-helix, and the inter O-P helical loop of Taq DNA polymerase or analogous positions in other DNA polymerases.;The invention also provides polynucleotides encoding the mutant DNA polymerases, optionally including expression vectors for mutant polymerase recombinant production, and further optionally including host cells containing the polynucleotides. Numerous methods of using the subject DNA polymerases are provided, including uses for chain termination sequencing and PCR. Kits are provided for synthesizing fluorescently labeled polynucleotides and may include a mutant DNA polymerase of the invention and a fluorescently labeled nucleotide.
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