Synthesis of L-nucleic acids by means of an enzyme

11634741 · 2023-04-25

Assignee

Inventors

Cpc classification

International classification

Abstract

The present invention is related to a method for adding one or more L-nucleotides to the 3′end of a first L-nucleic acid, wherein the method comprises the step of reacting the one or more L-nucleotides with the first L-nucleic acid in the presence of a protein comprising a mutant enzymatic activity exhibiting moiety, wherein the enzymatic activity is capable of adding one or more L-nucleotides to the 3′ end of the first L-nucleic acid, wherein the mutant enzymatic activity exhibiting moiety comprises an amino acid sequence, wherein the amino acids of the amino acid sequence are D-amino acids, wherein the mutant enzymatic activity exhibiting moiety is a variant of an enzymatic activity exhibiting moiety, wherein the enzymatic activity exhibiting moiety consists of an amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 15 and wherein the amino acids of the amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 15 are D-amino acids, wherein the amino acid sequence of the mutant enzymatic activity exhibiting moiety differs from the amino acid sequence of the enzymatic activity exhibiting moiety consisting of an amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 15 at least at one amino acid position, preferably at three amino acid positions, and/or wherein the amino acid sequence of the mutant enzymatic activity exhibiting moiety is a truncated form of an amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 15, and wherein the amino acid sequence of the mutant enzymatic activity exhibiting moiety is different from an amino acid sequence according to any of SEQ ID NOs 15 to 22 and 51.

Claims

1. A polymerase, wherein said polymerase comprises an amino acid sequence other than that of SEQ ID NO:15, wherein amino acids of the amino acid sequence are D-amino acids, wherein said polymerase adds one or more L-nucleotides to the 3′ end of a first L-nucleic acid or amplifies a target L-nucleic acid in the presence of L-nucleotides, wherein said polymerase comprises an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:89 or SEQ ID NO:94 or an amino acid sequence at least 85% identical to SEQ ID NO:89 or SEQ ID NO:94.

2. A method: (a) for adding one or more L-nucleotides to the 3′ end of a first L-nucleic acid comprising reacting the one or more L-nucleotides with the first L-nucleic acid in the presence of the polymerase of claim 1, wherein said polymerase adds one or more L-nucleotides to the 3′ end of the first L-nucleic acid; or (b) for amplifying a target L-nucleic acid in the presence of L-nucleotides comprising reacting the L-nucleotides with the target L-nucleic acid in presence of said polymerase of claim 1, wherein said polymerase amplifies the target L-nucleic acid in the presence of L-nucleotides.

3. The polymerase according to claim 1, wherein said polymerase comprises an amino acid sequence according to any one of SEQ ID NOs:121, 161, 201, 241 or 281.

4. The polymerase according to claim 3, wherein the amino acid sequence of said polymerase differs from the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs:121, 161, 201, 241 or 281 at the following position(s) of the amino acid sequence according to any one of SEQ ID NOs:121, 161, 201, 241 or 281 or at amino acid position(s) corresponding thereto: a) amino acid position 155 and/or 203 and/or 71, b) amino acid position 155 and/or 203 and/or 86, c) amino acid position 155 and/or 203 and/or 31, d) amino acid position 155 and/or 203 and/or 76, e) amino acid position 155 and/or 203 and/or 67, f) amino acid position 155 and/or 203 and/or 96, or g) amino acid position 155 and/or 203 and/or 85, wherein in any one of a) to g), the amino acid at positions 155, 203, 71, 67, 85 and 96 is substituted by cysteine, the amino acid at position 31 is substituted by serine, the amino acid at position 76 is substituted by glycine or alanine, and the amino acid at position 86 is substituted by glycine or cysteine.

5. The polymerase according to claim 1, wherein said polymerase comprises an amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO:339 or SEQ ID NO:340.

6. The polymerase according to claim 1, wherein the amino acid sequence of said polymerase comprises an amino acid sequence according to any one of SEQ ID NOs:122 to 160, 162 to 200, 202 to 240, 242 to 280, or 282 to 338.

7. The polymerase according to claim 5, wherein the amino acid sequence of said polymerase differs from the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:339 or SEQ ID NO:340 at the following position(s) of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:339 or SEQ ID NO:340, or at amino acid position(s) corresponding thereto: a) amino acid position 155 and/or 203 and/or 71, b) amino acid position 155 and/or 203 and/or 86, c) amino acid position 155 and/or 203 and/or 31, d) amino acid position 155 and/or 203 and/or 76, e) amino acid position 155 and/or 203 and/or 67, f) amino acid position 155 and/or 203 and/or 96, or g) amino acid position 155 and/or 203 and/or 85, wherein in any one of a) to g), the amino acid at positions 155, 203, 71, 67, 85 and 96 is substituted by cysteine, the amino acid at position 31 is substituted by serine, the amino acid at position 76 is substituted by glycine or alanine, and the amino acid at position 86 is substituted by glycine or cysteine.

8. A method for the identification of a target molecule binding L-nucleic acid molecule comprising the following steps of: (a) generating a heterogeneous population of L-nucleic acid molecules; (b) contacting the heterogeneous population of L-nucleic acid molecules of step (a) with the target molecule; (c) separating the L-nucleic acid molecules which are not bound by the target molecule; and (d) amplifying the L-nucleic acid molecules which are bound by the target molecule with said polymerase according to claim 1.

9. The polymerase of claim 1 comprising an amino acid substitution at position 155.

10. The polymerase of claim 1, wherein A at position 155 is replaced by C.

11. The polymerase of claim 1 comprising an amino acid substitution at position 203.

12. The polymerase of claim 1, wherein V at position 203 is replaced by C.

13. The polymerase of claim 1 comprising amino acid substitutions at positions 71 and 155.

14. The polymerase of claim 1 comprising amino acid substitutions at positions 71 and 203.

15. The polymerase of claim 1 comprising amino acid substitutions at positions 71, 155 and 203.

Description

(1) The present invention is further illustrated by the figures, examples and the sequence listing from which further features, embodiments and advantages may be taken, wherein

(2) FIG. 1A shows composition of 1-gap D-DNA templates for activity test of L-polymerase X;

(3) FIG. 1B shows composition of 6-gap D-DNA templates for activity test of L-polymerase X;

(4) FIG. 2A-B shows analytics of synthesized D-polypeptide product Ac-MLTLIQGKKIVNHLRSRLAFEYNGQLIKILSKNIVAVGSL-OGp (1) (SEQ ID NO: 43) by UPLC (A) and mass spectrometry (B);

(5) FIG. 3 A-B shows analytics of synthesized D-polypeptide product H-RREEKMLNDVDLLIIVPEKKLLKHVLPNIRIKGLSFSVKA-SMe (2) (SEQ ID NO: 44) by UPLC (A) and mass spectrometry (B);

(6) FIG. 4 A-B shows analytics of synthesized D-polypeptide product H-CGERKCVLFIEWEKKTYQLDLFTALAEEKPYAIFHFTGPV SYLIRIRAALKKKNYKLNQYGLFKNQTLVPLKITTEKELI KELGFTYRIPKKRL-OH (SEQ ID NO: 45) (3) by UPLC (A) and mass spectrometry (B);

(7) FIG. 5 A-B shows analytics of synthesized D-polypeptide product Ac-MLTLIQGKKIVNHLRSRLAFEYNGQLIKILSKNIVAVGSLRREEK MLNDVDLLIIVPEKKLLKHVLPNIRIKGLSFSVKA-SMe (4) (SEQ ID NO: 46) by UPLC (A) and mass spectrometry (B);

(8) FIG. 6 A-B shows analytics of native chemical ligation D-polypeptide product Ac-MLTLIQGKKIVNHLRSRLAFEYNGQLIKILSKNIVAVGSLRREEK MLNDVDLLIIVPEKKLLKHVLPNIRIKGLSFSVKACGERKCVLFIE WEKKTYQLDLFTALAEEKPYAIFHFTGPVSYLIRIRAALKKKNY KLNQYGLFKNQTLVPLKITTEKELIKELGFTYRIPKKRL-OH (5) (SEQ ID NO: 1) by SDS-PAGE (A) and mass spectrometry (B);

(9) FIG. 7 shows composition of 1-gap L-DNA templates for activity test of D-polymerase X;

(10) FIG. 8 shows gel electrophoresis of L-DNA elongation activity assay of D-polymerase X on 1-gap substrates;

(11) FIG. 9A shows composition of 6-gap L-DNA templates for activity test of D-polymerase X;

(12) FIG. 9B shows gel electrophoresis of L-DNA elongation activity assay of D-polymerase X on 6-gap substrate;

(13) FIG. 10A shows primer-template complex D-DNA substrate for activity assay of L-polymerase X;

(14) FIG. 10B shows gel electrophoresis of D-DNA elongation activity assay of L-polymerase X performed at constant temperature;

(15) FIG. 10C shows gel electrophoresis of D-DNA elongation activity assay of L-polymerase X performed using thermal cycling;

(16) FIG. 11 A-B shows analytics of synthetic all-L-polymerase dpo4 variant A155C by SDS-PAGE (A) and LC-ESI mass spectometry (B);

(17) FIG. 12 A shows gel electrophoresis of D-DNA PCR activity assays of L-polymerase dpo4 variants A155C, V203C, C31S and A155C/V203C;

(18) FIG. 12 B shows gel electrophoresis of D-DNA PCR activity assays of recombinant and synthetic L-polymerase dpo4;

(19) FIG. 12 C shows gel electrophoresis of D-DNA PCR activity assays of L-polymerase dpo4 variants A71C/A155C/V203C, S86C/A155C/V203C and C31S/S86C/A155C/V203C;

(20) FIG. 12 D shows gel electrophoresis of D-DNA PCR activity assays of L-polymerase dpo4 variants M76G/A155C/V203C and M76A/A155C/V203C;

(21) FIG. 12 E shows gel electrophoresis of D-DNA PCR activity assays of L-polymerase dpo4 variants 167C/A155C/V203C, S86G/A155C/V203C and S96C/A155C/V203C;

(22) FIG. 12 F shows gel electrophoresis of D-DNA PCR activity assays of L-polymerase dpo4 C-terminus truncation forms Δ3, Δ6, Δ9, Δ12 and Δ15;

(23) FIG. 13 shows analytics of synthesized D-polypeptide product H-RTFPHGISKETAYSESVKLLQKILEEDERKIRRIGVRFSKFIEAIGL DKFFDT-NH2 (SEQ ID NO: 81) (1) by mass spectrometry;

(24) FIG. 14 shows analytics of synthesized D-polypeptide product Boc-VDTLSIEFDKLKGMIGEAKAKYLISLARDEYNEPIRTRVRKSIGRI VTMKRNSRNLEEIKPYLFRAIEESYYKLDKRIPKAIHVVAVTEDL DIVSRG-OH (2) (SEQ ID NO: 82) by mass spectrometry;

(25) FIG. 15 shows analytics of fragment condensation D-polypeptide product H-VDTLSIEFDKLKGMIGEAKAKYLISLARDEYNEPIRTRVRKSIG RIVTMKRNSRNLEEIKPYLFRAIEESYYKLDKRIPKAIHVVAVTE DLDIVSRGRTFPHGISKETAYSESVKLLQKILEEDERKIRRIGVRFS KFIEAIGLDKFFDT-NH.sub.2 (3) (SEQ ID NO: 83) by mass spectrometry;

(26) FIG. 16 A-B shows analytics of synthesized D-polypeptide product Z-CDMAKPNGIKVIDDEEVKRLIRELDIADVPGIGNITAEKLKKLG INKL-benzyl-thioester (4) (SEQ ID NO: 84) by RP-HPLC (A) and mass spectrometry (B);

(27) FIG. 17 A-B shows analytics of synthesized D-polypeptide product H-RKEVYQQVSSRIMNLLREYSEKIEIASIDEAYLDISDKVRDYREA YNLGLEIKNKILEKEKITVTVGISKNKVFAKIA-SMe (7) (SEQ ID NO: 85) by UPLC (A) and mass spectrometry (B);

(28) FIG. 18 A-B shows analytics of synthesized D-polypeptide product Ac-MIVLFVDFDYFYAQVEEVLNPSLKGKPVVVCVFSGRFEDSGAV ATANYEARKFGVKAGIPIVEAKKILPNAVYLPM-OGp (6) (SEQ ID NO: 86) by UPLC (A) and mass spectrometry (B);

(29) FIG. 19 A-B shows analytics of clostripain mediated D-polypeptide ligation product Ac-MIVLFVDFDYFYAQVEEVLNPSLKGKPVVVCVFSGRFEDSG AVATANYEARKFGVKAGIPIVEAKKILPNAVYLPMRKEVYQQV SSRIMNLLREYSEKIEIASIDEAYLDISDKVRDYREAYNLGLEIKN KILEKEKITVTVGISKNKVFAKIA-SMe (8) (SEQ ID NO: 88) by SDS-PAGE (A) and ESI mass spectrometry (B);

(30) FIG. 20 A-B shows analytics of native chemical ligation product of all-L-polymerase dpo4 fragment 155-352 (V203C) by SDS-PAGE (A) and LC-ESI mass spectometry (B);

(31) FIG. 21 shows analytics of synthesized D-polypeptide product H-CVYLPMRKEVYQQVSSRIMNLLREYSEKIEIASIDEAYLDISDKV RDYREAYNLGLEIKNKILEKEKITVTVGISKNKVFAKIA-SBz1 (9) (SEQ ID NO: 344) by UPLC;

(32) FIG. 22 shows analytics of synthesized D-polypeptide product H-CVYLPMRKEVYQQVSSRIMNLLREYSEKIEIASIDEAYLDISDKV RDYREAYNLGLEIKNKILEKEKITVTVGISKNKVFAKIA-SBz1 (9) (SEQ ID NO: 344) by mass spectrometry;

(33) FIG. 23 shows analytics of synthesized D-polypeptide product Ac-MIVLFVDFDYFYAQVEEVLNPSLKGKPVVVCVFSGRFEDSGAV ATANYEARKFGVKAGIPIVEAKKILPN-SBz1 (11) (SEQ ID NO: 345) by UPLC;

(34) FIG. 24 shows analytics of synthesized D-polypeptide product Ac-MIVLFVDFDYFYAQVEEVLNPSLKGKPVVVCVFSGRFEDSGAV ATANYEARKFGVKAGIPIVEAKKILPN-SBz1 (11) (SEQ ID NO: 345) by mass spectrometry;

(35) FIG. 25 A-B shows analytics of synthesized D-polypeptide product Z-CDMAKPNGIKVIDDEEVKRLIRELDIADVPGIGNITAEKLKKLGIN KL-benzyl-thioester (7) (SEQ ID NO: 84) by UPLC (A) and ESI-LC-MS (B);

(36) FIG. 26 A-B shows analytics of all-D-peptide native chemical ligation product H-CDMAKPNGIKVIDDEEVICRLIRELDIADVPGIGNITAEKLKKLGIN KLCDTLSIEFDKLKGMIGEAKAKYLISLARDEYNEPIRTRVRKSIG RIVTMKRNSRNLEEIKPYLFRAIEESYYKLDKRIPKAIHVVAVTE DLDIVSRGRTFPHGISKETAYSESVKLLQKILEEDERKIRRIG VRFSKFIEAIGLDKFFDT-NH2 (8) (SEQ ID NO: 375) by SDS-PAGE (A) and ESI-LC-MS (B);

(37) FIG. 27 A-B shows analytics of all-D-peptide native chemical ligation product Ac-MIVLFVDFDYFYAQVEEVLNPSLKGKPVVVCVFSGRFEDSGAV ATANYEARKFGVKAGIPIVEAKKILPNCVYLPMRKEVYQQVSSR IMNLLREYSEKIEIASIDEAYLDISDKVRDYREAYNLGLEIKNKIL EKEKITVTVGISKNKVFAKIA-SBz1 (11) (SEQ ID NO: 346) by SDS-PAGE (A) and ESI-LC-MS (B);

(38) FIG. 28 A-C shows analytics of all-D-polymerase Dpo4 variant A71C/A155C/V203C native chemical ligation product by SDS-PAGE (A and B) and ESI-LC-MS (C);

(39) FIG. 29 shows analytics of synthesized D-polypeptide product H-RKEVYQQVSSRIMNLLREYSEKIEIASIDEAYLDISDKVRDYREA YNLGLEIKNKILEKEKITVTVGISKNKVFAKIA-SBz1 (9) (SEQ ID NO: 348) by UPLC;

(40) FIG. 30 shows analytics of synthesized D-polypeptide product H-RKEVYQQVSSRIMNLLREYSEKIEIASIDEAYLDISDKVRDYREA YNLGLEIKNKILEKEKITVTVGISKNKVFAKIA-SBz1 (9) (SEQ ID NO: 348) by mass spectrometry;

(41) FIG. 31 shows analytics of synthesized D-polypeptide product Ac-MIVLFVDFDY FYAQVEEVLNP SLKGKPVVV CVFSGRFEDS GAVATANYEA RKFGVKAGIP IVEAKKILPN AVYLPG-OGp (10) (SEQ ID NO: 347) by UPLC;

(42) FIG. 32 shows analytics of synthesized D-polypeptide product Ac-MIVLFVDFDY FYAQVEEVLNP SLKGKPVVV CVFSGRFEDS GAVATANYEA RKFGVKAGIP IVEAKKILPN AVYLPG-OGp (10) (SEQ ID NO: 347) by mass spectrometry;

(43) FIG. 33 A-B shows analytics of protease catalyzed all-D ligation product Ac-MIVLFVDFDYFYAQVEEVLNPSLKGKPVVVCVFSGRFEDSGAV ATANYEARKFGVKAGIPIVEAKKILPNAVYLPGRKEVYQQVSSRI MNLLREYSEKIEIASIDEAYLDISDKVRDYREAYNLGLEIKNKILE KEKITVTVGISKNKVFAKIA-SBz1 (11) (SEQ ID NO: 349) by SDS-PAGE (a) and ESI-LC-MS (B);

(44) FIG. 34 shows analytics of synthesized crude all-D peptide H-KAIHVVAVT EDLDIVSRGR TFPHGISKET AYSESVKLLQ KILEEDERKI RRIGVRFSKF IEAIGLDKFF DT-NH.sub.2 (1) (SEQ ID NO: 350) UPLC profile (a) and mass spectrum (b);

(45) FIG. 35 shows analytics of synthesized crude all-D peptide H-CDTLSIEF DKLKGMIGEA KAKYLISLAR DEYNEPIRTR VRKSIGRIVT MKRNSRNLEE IKPYLFRAIE ESYYKLDKRI P-OH (3) (SEQ ID NO: 351) UPLC profile (a) and mass spectrum (b);

(46) FIG. 36 shows analytics of H-CDTLSIEF DKLKGMIGEA KAKYLISLAR DEYNEPIRTR VRKSIGRIVT MKRNSRNLEE IKPYLFRAIE ESYYKLDKRI PKAIHVVAVT EDLDIVSRGR TFPHGISKET AYSESVKLLQ KILEEDERKI RRIGVRFSKF IEAIGLDKFF DT-NH.sub.2 (5) (SEQ ID NO: 369) synthesized by fragment condensation UPLC profile (a) and mass spectrum (b);

(47) FIG. 37 shows analytics of synthesized and purified all-D peptide H-CVYLPMRKEV YQQVSSRIMN LLREYSEKIE IASIDEAYLD ISDKVRDYRE AYNLGLEIKN KILEKEKITV TVGISKNKVF AKIA-NHNH.sub.2 (9) (SEQ ID NO: 352) UPLC profile (a) and mass spectrum (b).

EXAMPLES

(48) Abbreviation as used in the examples. ACN acetonitrile (Sigma-Aldrich Chemie GmbH, Schnelldorf, Deutschland) DCM dichloromethane (Sigma-Aldrich Chemie GmbH, Schnelldorf, Deutschland) DIPEA N,N-diisipropylamine (Sigma-Aldrich Chemie GmbH, Schnelldorf, Deutschland) EDT (Sigma-Aldrich Chemie GmbH, Schnelldorf, Deutschland) Fmoc 9-Fluorenyl-methoxycarbonyl- HATU (2-(7-Aza-1H-benzotriazole-1-yl)-1,1,3,3-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate) (CreoSalus, Louisville Ky., USA) HFIP 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluorophosphate(Sigma-Aldrich Chemie GmbH, Schnelldorf, Deutschland) HPLC High-performance liquid chromatography (sometimes referred to as high-pressure liquid chromatography) MeIm methyl imidazole (Sigma-Aldrich Chemie GmbH, Schnelldorf, Deutschland) MeOH methanol (Sigma-Aldrich Chemie GmbH, Schnelldorf, Deutschland) MSNT 1-(Mesitylene-2-sulfonyl)-3-nitro-1,2,4-triazole (Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany) NMP N-methyl-pyrrolidone (Iris Biotech GmbH, Marktredwitz, Deutschland) PyBOP (Benzotriazol-1-yloxy)tripyrrolidinophosphoniumhexafluorophosphat (MERCK KGAA, DARMSTADT, GERMANY) SDS Sodium dodecyl sulfate (Sigma-Aldrich Chemie GmbH, Schnelldorf, Deutschland) TBTU O-(Benzotriazol-1-yl)-N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyluroniumtetrafluoroborat (Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany) tBu (tert.-Butyl-) TFA trifluoroacetic acid (Sigma-Aldrich Chemie GmbH, Schnelldorf, Deutschland) TFE 1,1,1-trifluoroethanol(Sigma-Aldrich Chemie GmbH, Schnelldorf, Deutschland) THF (Sigma-Aldrich Chemie GmbH, Schnelldorf, Deutschland) TIS (Sigma-Aldrich Chemie GmbH, Schnelldorf, Deutschland) TLC Thin layer chromatography Tris Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (Sigma-Aldrich Chemie GmbH, Schnelldorf, Deutschland) UPLC Ultra-performance liquid chromatography

Example 1—Recombinant Expression and Purification of Wild-Type and Variants of Polymerase X

(49) Polymerase X from African swine fever virus (abbr. ASFV) was described and characterized by Oliveros et al in 1997. The wild-type gene of the polymerase X has an open reading frame (abbr. ORF) of only 525 base pairs including start codon and stop codon (Oliveros et al, 1997). The encoded protein has a length of only 174 amino acids. This example describes how polymerase X as well as variants thereof have been expressed in E. coli and been purified using a His.sub.6-Tag.

(50) 1.1 Expression Constructs

(51) Since the codon usage of ASFV differs from E. coli, an E. coli-codon-optimized synthetic gene for polymerase X was purchased from GeneArt AG (Regensburg, Germany). The synthetic gene sequence was provided in pCR4-Blunt-TOPO vector (originator company: Invitrogen, Karlsruhe, Germany). The codon-optimized open reading frame including start codon and two stop codons had the following sequence:

(52) TABLE-US-00002 (SEQ ID NO: 26) ATGCTGACCCTGATTCAGGGCAAAAAAATCGTGAACCATCTGCGTAGCCG TCTGGCCTTTGAATATAACGGCCAGCTGATTAAAATTCTGAGCAAAAACA TTGTGGCGGTGGGCAGCCTGCGTCGTGAAGAAAAAATGCTGAACGATGTG GATCTGCTGATTATTGTGCCGGAAAAAAAACTGCTGAAACATGTGCTGCC GAACATTCGTATTAAAGGCCTGAGCTTTAGCGTGAAAGTGTGCGGCGAAC GTAAATGCGTGCTGTTTATCGAATGGGAAAAAAAAACCTACCAGCTGGAC CTGTTTACCGCGCTGGCCGAAGAAAAACCGTATGCGATCTTTCATTTTAC CGGTCCGGTGAGCTATCTGATTCGTATTCGTGCGGCGCTGAAAAAAAAAA ACTACAAACTGAACCAGTATGGCCTGTTTAAAAACCAGACCCTGGTGCCG CTGAAAATTACCACCGAAAAAGAACTGATTAAAGAACTGGGCTTTACCTA TCGCATTCCGAAAAAACGCCTGTAATAA.

(53) In order to obtain an expression construct for polymerase X, also referred to as all-L polymerase X, the gene of the polymerase X was cut out from pCR4-Blunt-TOPO with BamHI and PstI and subcloned in pRSET-A vector (Invitrogen, Karlsruhe, Germany). Subcloning added a His.sub.6-Tag to the N-terminus, and brought the gene under control of the T7 promoter. The construct was named pMJ14 and was used for expression of all-L polymerase X in E. coli. The protein polymerase X expressed from pMJ14 had the following sequence of 210 amino acids:

(54) TABLE-US-00003 (SEQ ID NO: 27) MRGSHHHHHHGMASMTGGQQMGRDLYDDDDKDRWGSMLTLIQGKKIVNHL RSRLAFEYNGQLIKILSKNIVAVGSLRREEKMLNDVDLLIIVPEKKLLKH VLPNIRIKGLSFSVKVCGERKCVLFIEWEKKTYQLDLFTALAEEKPYAIF HFTGPVSYLIRIRAALKKKNYKLNQYGLFKNQTLVPLKITTEKELIKELG FTYRIPKKRL.

(55) The initial 36 amino acids represented the His.sub.6-Tag including a few spacer amino acids and some other sequence tags (T7 Gene 10 leader, Anti-Express Epitope). The final 174 amino acid part was identical to the polymerase X protein sequence as found in ASFV.

(56) Expression constructs for variants of all-L polymerase X were made using the commercially available QuikChange kit (Stratagene GmbH, Waldbronn, Germany) according to manufacturer's protocol. Plasmid pMJ14 served as template. Oligonucleotides needed for QuikChange were either synthesized at the NOXXON facility (QC10_up, QC10_low) or purchased from Purimex (Grebenstein, Germany) (QC26_up, QC26_low, QC27_up, QC27_low, QC31_up, QC31_low). The following variant expression constructs were made and used for expression of the variants of the all-L polymerase in E. coli:

(57) TABLE-US-00004 expression variant construct oligonucleotides used for QuikChange mutagenesis procedure I124G pMJ130 QC10_up (5′-TCCGGTGAGCTATCTGGGTCGTATTCGTGCGGCG-3′) (SEQ ID NO: 28) QC10_low (5′-CGCCGCACGAATACGACCCAGATAGCTCACCGGA-3′) (SEQ ID NO: 29) V80G pMJ356 QC26_up (5′-TGAGCTTTAGCGTGAAAGGGTGCGGCGAACG-3′) (SEQ ID NO: 30) QC26_low (5′-CGTTCGCCGCACCCTTTCACGCTAAAGCTCA-3′) (SEQ ID NO: 31) V80A pMJ357 QC27_up (5′-TGAGCTTTAGCGTGAAAGCGTGCGGCGAACG-3′) (SEQ ID NO: 32) QC27_low (5′-CGTTCGCCGCACGCTTTCACGCTAAAGCTCA-3′) (SEQ ID NO: 33) C86S pMJ412 QC31_up (5′-TGAAAGTGTGCGGCGAACGTAAAAGCGTGCTGTTTA-3′) (SEQ ID NO: 34) QC31_low (5′-TAAACAGCACGCTTTTACGTTCGCCGCACACTTTCA-3′) (SEQ ID NO: 35)

(58) 1.2 Protein Expression in E. coli

(59) All-L-polymerase X was expressed in E. coli using expression construct pMJ14. Variants of the all-L-polymerase X were expressed from pMJ130, pMJ356, pMJ357 or pMJ412. For expression, the appropriate expression construct was transformed in competent E. coli strain ‘BL-21 (DE3) pLysS’ (Novagen/VWR, Dresden, Germany) and maintained with the antibiotic Ampicillin. The culture was grown at 37° C. in 2YT medium until the optical density at 600 nm reached approx. 0.6. Then protein expression was induced by adding Isopropyl beta-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside (abbr. IPTG) to a final concentration of 0.4 mM. Expression was performed for 4 hours at 30° C. Cells were harvested by centrifugation and either stored at −80° C. or immediately processed.

(60) 1.3 Protein Purification

(61) Fresh or frozen E. coli cells were resuspended on ice in ‘lyse and bind buffer’ (50 mM Na-Phosphate, pH 7.5, 500 mM NaCl, 40 mM Imidazole) and lysed using a ‘French Press’ (G. Heinemann, Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany) cell disrupter. Purification was done at 4° C. using ‘Ni-NTA Superflow’ material (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany). Step elution was done with elution buffer (50 mM Na-Phosphate, pH 7.5, 500 mM NaCl, 200 mM Imidazole). Fractions were analyzed using SDS-PAGE (Invitrogen, Karlsruhe, Germany), pooled and, if required, further purified with anion-ion-exchange chromatography on an ‘ÄKTA purifier’ system using ‘Q Sepharose fast flow’ material (GE healthcare, Freiburg, Germany). Protein identity was confirmed by MALDI mass spectometry and correct fractions were pooled, concentrated and re-buffered. Purified protein was stored at −20° C. in a buffer consisting of 25 mM Na-Phosphate, pH 7.5, 250 mM NaCl, 50% glycerol. Protein concentrations were estimated by BCA-protein assay (Pierce/Perbio Science, Bonn, Germany) using a bovine serum albumin (abbr. BSA) standard.

Example 2—Activity Confirmation of Polymerase X and Variants of Polymerase X

(62) The activity assays for the all-L-polymerase X and variants of all-L-polymerase X (see Example 1) were done with different types of substrate complexes formed by oligonucleotides, wherein the substrates and oligonucleotides consists of D-DNA-nucleotides.

(63) 2.1 Activity Assays on Substrates with 1-Nucleotide Gap

(64) List of oligonucleotides for the 1-gap substrates:

(65) TABLE-US-00005 Length, Name nt Sequence (5′.fwdarw.3′) SP-1 15 GATCACAGTGAGTAC (SEQ ID NO: 36) D(g1)P 17 Phosphate-GTAAAACGACGGCCAGT (SEQ ID NO: 37) MJ_1_140_DD 33 ACTGGCCGTCGTTTTACAGTACTCACTGTGATC (SEQ ID NO: 38) MJ_1_141_DD 33 ACTGGCCGTCGTTTTACCGTACTCACTGTGATC (SEQ ID NO: 39) MJ_1_142_DD 33 ACTGGCCGTCGTTTTACGGTACTCACTGTGATC (SEQ ID NO: 40) SP1c + 18(g1) 33 ACTGGCCGTCGTTTTACTGTACTCACTGTGATC (SEQ ID NO: 41)

(66) Substrate complexes were made by annealing a template strand of a DNA oligonucleotide consisting of 33 nucleotides (also referred to as lower strand) with two different DNA oligonucleotides consisting of 15 and 17 nucleotides, respectively, which hybridized to the template strand at its 5′-end and 3′end, respectively, resulting in a gap of one nucleotide in the upper strand. The complexes contained either A, C, G or T at the template position within the gap. Before annealing, oligonucleotide SP-1 consisting of 15 nucleotides was radioactively labeled at its 5′-end with .sup.32P by a standard kinase reaction employing Gamma-.sup.32P-Adenosine-Triphosphate (ATP) and T4 polynucleotide kinase. Annealing was done in 10 mM Tris-HCl, 5 mM MgCl.sub.2, pH 8.0 by heating 10 mM at 65° C. and slowly cooling down. Unincorporated gamma-.sup.32P-ATP was removed by purification over NAP-columns (GE healthcare).

(67) In the activity assay, all-L-polymerase X and the variants thereof were combined with D-configurated 1-gap substrate complexes (see FIG. 1A). As a negative control, each substrate was also incubated without all-L-polymerase X and variants thereof and D-desoxy-nucleotide-triphosphates (dNTP's). Depending on the template base within the 1-gap complex only the corresponding D-dNTP was added during the assay. A typical 6 μl assay contained 50 nM substrate complex, 1.7 ng/μl L-all-L-polymerase X or variants thereof, 8 μM of one D-dNTP and buffer (50 mM Tris-HCl, 10 mM MgCl.sub.2, 4% glycerol, 0.1 mg/ml bovine serum albumin (BSA), pH 7.5). D-dNTP's were purchased from Rovalab (Teltow, Germany). The incubation time was 30 minutes at 37° C. The whole assay volume was mixed with sample buffer/dye, loaded on a denaturing sequencing gel a separated for 4 hours. The gel was exposed to Kodak K screen overnight at −80° C. and read out using BioRad Fx phosphoimager system.

(68) All-L-polymerase X and the variants 1124G, V80A and V80G were active under these conditions and filled the 1 nucleotide gap between the two upper strand DNA oligonucleotides.

(69) 2.2 Activity Assay on a Substrate with 6-Nucleotide Gap

(70) List of oligonucleotides for the 6-gap substrate:

(71) TABLE-US-00006 Length,  Name nt Sequence (5′.fwdarw.3′) SP-1 15 GATCACAGTGAGTAC (SEQ ID NO: 36) D(g6)P 12 Phosphate-ACGACGGCCAGT (SEQ ID NO: 42) SP1c + 18 (g6) 33 ACTGGCCGTCGTTCTATTGTACTCACTGTGATC (SEQ ID NO: 14)

(72) Substrate complexes were made by annealing a template strand of a DNA oligonucleotide consisting of 33 nucleotides (referred to as lower strand) with two different DNA oligonucleotides consisting of 15 and 12 nucleotides, respectively, which hybridized to the template strand at its 5′-end and 3′end, respectively, resulting in a gap of six nucleotides in the upper strand. Before annealing, oligonucleotide SP-1 consisting of 15 nucleotides was radioactively labeled at its 5′-end with .sup.32P by a standard kinase reaction employing Gamma-.sup.32P-Adenosine-Triphosphate (ATP) and T4 polynucleotide kinase. Annealing was done in 10 mM Tris-HCl, 5 mM MgCl.sub.2, pH 8.0 by heating 10 min at 65° C. and slowly cooling down. Unincorporated gamma-.sup.32P-ATP was removed by purification over NAP-columns (GE healthcare, Freiburg, Germany).

(73) In the activity assay, all-L-polymerase X and variants thereof were combined with D-configurated 6-gap substrate complex (FIG. 1B). As a negative control, the substrate was also incubated without all-L-polymerase X or variants thereof and desoxy-nucleotide-triphosphates (D-dNTP's). A typical 6 μl assay contained 50 nM substrate complex, up to 1.3 ng/μl all-L-polymerase X or variants thereof, 8 μM each of the D-dNTP's and buffer (50 mM Tris-HCl, 10 mM MgCl2, 4% glycerol, 0.1 mg/ml bovine serum albumin (BSA), pH 7.5). D-dNTP's were purchased from Rovalab (Teltow, Germany). A typical incubation time was 30 minutes at 37° C. The whole assay volume was mixed with sample buffer/dye, loaded on a denaturing sequencing gel a separated for 4 hours. The gel was exposed to Kodak K screen overnight at −80° C. and read out using BioRad Fx phosphoimager system.

(74) All-L-polymerase X and the variants (except C86S) were active under these conditions and filled the 6 nucleotide gap between the two upper strand DNA oligonucleotides.

Example 3—Synthesis of a Variant of Polymerase Pol X Consisting of D-Amino Acids

(75) Within the example the synthesis of the all-D polymerase X variant V80A is described. The amino acid sequence of the all-D polymerase X variant V80A is Ac-MLTLIQGKKIVNHLRSRLAFEYNGQLIKILSKNIVAVGSLRREEKMLNDVDLLIIVPEK KLLKHVLPNIRIKGLSFSVKACGERKCVLFIEWEKKTYQLDLFTALAEEKPYAIFHFTG PVSYLIRIRAALKKKNYKLNQYGLFKNQTLVPLKITTEKELIKELGFTYRIPKKRL-OH. (SEQ ID NO:3)

(76) All amino acids used are protected according to the Solid-phase peptide synthesis Fmoc/tBu-strategy requirements (Eric Atherton et al., 1981). All amino acids used are D-amino acids (Bachem, Bubendorf, Switzerland).

(77) 3.1 Synthesis of HO-Gp(Boc).sub.2

(78) The tert-butyloxycarbonyl-protected 4-guanidinophenol was synthesized in analogy to Sekizaki et al. (Sekizaki et al., 1996). According to this 40 mmol N,N′-Bis-(tert-butyloxycarbonyl)-S-methylisothiourea (Sigma-Aldrich Chemie GmbH, Schnelldorf, Deutschland) and 60 mmol 4-aminophenol (Sigma-Aldrich Chemie GmbH, Schnelldorf, Deutschland) were dissolved in 250 ml THF in a 500 ml bottom round flask. Following this the solution was argon flushed for 10 min and kept stirring for 120 hours while sealed with a CaCl.sub.2 tube.

(79) After evaporating the solvent the residue was precipitated with ice cold methanol. The precipitate was dried under vacuum over P.sub.4O.sub.10. Finally the product was purified using flash chromatography with DCM. Product containing fractions were combined and the solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure. TLC, reversed phase HPLC, mass spectrometry and NMR were used for analytics. The experimentally determined mass corresponds to the calculated mass of 351 Da.

(80) 3.2 Synthesis of H-D-Leu-OGp(Boc).sub.2

(81) 1 mmol Z-D-Leu-OH (Bachem, Bubendorf, Switzerland), 0.9 eq. TBTU and 0.9 eq. HO-Gp(Boc).sub.2 were dissolved in 10 ml DMF. After addition of 2 eq. DIPEA the solution was stirred for 2 hours. After evaporating the solvent the raw product was purified with flash chromatography using DCM. Pure fractions of Z-D-Leu-OGp(Boc).sub.2 were combined and the solvent was evaporated.

(82) Z-D-Leu-OGp(Boc).sub.2 was dissolved in 10 ml MeOH and flushed with argon. Hydrolytic cleavage of the N-terminal Z-group was achieved by the addition of Pd/C catalyst and H.sub.2 in 2 hours. After filtrating off H-D-Leu-OGp(Boc).sub.2 MeOH was evaporated under reduced pressure. Analytics was performed using reversed phase HPLC and mass spectrometry. The correct mass of 465 Da for the product was found and is in correspondence the calculated mass.

(83) 3.3 Synthesis of All-D-Peptide AcMLTLIQGKKIVNHLRSRLAFEYNGQLIKILSKNIVAVGSL-OGp (1) (SEQ ID NO: 43)

(84) 0.10 mmol TentaGel-R-Trityl resin (Rapp Polymere, Tubingen, Deutschland) was loaded with Fmoc-D-Ser(tBu)-OH (Bachem, Bubendorf, Switzerland) as described by Barlos et al. (Barlos et al., 1989). Therefore 0.10 mmol resin was incubated twice for 30 min with 0.6 mmol thionylchloride and subsequently washed with DCM. Following this the resin was incubated 90 min with 0.6 mmol Fmoc-D-Ser(tBu)-OH, 2.4 mmol DIPEA in 6 ml DCM. Afterwards the resin was blocked three times for 10 min using a solution of 10% MeOH (v/v), 10% DIPEA (v/v) in DCM and washed with DCM. Automated synthesis was done using an ABI 433 (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, USA) with the FASTmoc protocol. 10 eq. amino acid were activated using 9 eq. HATU and 20 eq. DIPEA in NMP. Coupling time was 45 min and Fmoc-deprotection was performed three times for 7 min with 20% (v/v) piperidine (Sigma-Aldrich Chemie GmbH, Schnelldorf, Deutschland) in NMP.

(85) The cleavage of the fully protected peptide acid was achieved by incubating the peptidyl resin twice in 10 ml 30% (v/v) HFIP in DCM for 2 hours. After filtering off the peptide the solvent was evaporated and the residue precipitated using ice cold diethyl ether. The precipitated peptide was isolated and dried.

(86) 0.01 mmol fully protected peptide, 4 eq. PyBOP and 5 eq. H-D-Leu-OGp(Boc).sub.2 were dissolved in 6 ml NMP. After addition of 10 eq. DIPEA the mixture was stirred for 4 hours. Following this the solvent was reduced evaporated and the residue precipitated by ice cold diethyl ether. The precipitated peptide ester was dried and subsequently protection groups were cleaved off using 2.5% EDT, 2.5% water, 2.5% TIS in TFA for 2 hours. Following the evaporation of TFA the peptide was precipitated with ice cold diethyl ether. Reversed phase HPLC purification of the peptide ester was performed on a C18 column (Phenomenex, Aschaffenburg, Germany) using an ACN/water gradient. Fractions that contain product were combined and freeze dried.

(87) The final product was characterised by HPLC/UPLC (FIG. 2A) and mass spectrometry (FIG. 2B). The measured mass for the product of 4654.7 Da is in correspondence to the theoretical mass of 4652.7 Da.

(88) 3.4 Synthesis of all-D-peptide H-RREEKLNDVDLLIIVPEKKL LKHVLPNIRIKGLSFSVKA-SMe (2) (SEQ ID NO: 44)

(89) 0.10 mmol TentaGel-R—NH.sub.2 resin (Rapp Polymere, Tubingen, Deutschland) was loaded with Fmoc-D-Ala-OH using 5 eq. amino acid, eq. 4.9 eq. HATU and 10 eq. DIPEA for 45 min in 6 ml NMP. Subsequently the resin was washed with THF. Conversion to Fmoc-d-Ala-Ψ[CS-NH]-R-TentaGel was achieved by incubation with 4 eq. Lawesson reagent in THF at 80° C. for 2 hours. Following this the resin was washed with NMP. Subsequently the so prepared resin was used in automated peptide synthesis as described previously (see Example 1.3).

(90) Following this the corresponding thioester was generated by incubation with methyl iodide in DMF overnight according to Sharma et al. (Sharma et al., 2011). After filtering of the resin the peptide thioester containing solvent was evaporated and the residue precipitated using ice cold diethyl ether. The cleavage of side chain protection groups was performed with 2.5% EDT, 2.5% water, 2.5% TIS in TFA for 2 hours. Following the evaporation of TFA the peptide was precipitated with ice cold diethyl ether. Reversed phase HPLC purification of the peptide thioester was performed on a C18 column (Phenomenex, Aschaffenburg, Germany) using an ACN/water gradient. Fractions that contain product were combined and freeze dried.

(91) The final product was characterised by HPLC/UPLC (FIG. 3A) and mass spectrometry (FIG. 3B). The experimentally determined mass for the product (4683.8 Da) is in accordance with the theoretical value of 4681.7 Da

(92) 3.5 Synthesis of all-D-peptide H-CGERKCVLFIEWEKKTYQLDLFTALAEEKPYAIFHFTGPVSYLIRIRAALKKKNYKL NQYGLFKNQTLVPLKITTEKELIKELGFTYRIPKKRL-OH (3) (SEQ ID NO: 45)

(93) 0.10 mmol TentaGel-R-PHB resin (Rapp Polymere, Tubingen, Deutschland) was loaded with Fmoc-D-Leu-OH using 6 eq. amino acid, 6 eq. MSNT and 4.5 eq MeIm in DCM. Automated synthesis was done using an ABI 433 with the FASTmoc protocol. 10 eq. amino acid were activated using 9 eq. HATU and 20 eq. DIPEA in NMP. Coupling time was 45 min and Fmoc-deprotection was performed three times for 7 mM with 20% (v/v) piperidine in NMP. Double coupling steps were performed after 42 amino acids. Cleavage of the N-terminal Fmoc-protected peptide was achieved using 2.5% EDT, 2.5% water, 2.5% TIS in TFA for 2 hours. Following the evaporation of TFA the peptide was precipitated with ice cold diethyl ether. Reversed phase HPLC purification of the crude N-terminal protected peptide was performed on a C18 column using an ACN/water gradient. Product containing fractions were combined and freeze dried. The Fmoc-protected peptide was subsequently dissolved and stirred in 20% piperine in DMF for cleaving off the N-terminal Fmoc-group. After 20 min the solvent was evaporated and the residue precipitated using ice cold diethyl ether. Subsequently the precipitated crude peptide was purified using reversed phase HPLC with C18 column with an ACN/water gradient. Product containing fractions were combined and freeze dried.

(94) The final product was characterised by HPLC/UPLC (FIG. 4A) and mass spectrometry (FIG. 4B). The determined mass of the product (11184.3 Da) corresponds to the theoretical mass of 11178.2 Da.

(95) 3.6 Synthesis of All-D-Peptide Ac-MLTLIQGKKIVNHLRSRLAFEYNGQLIKILSKNIVAVGSLRREEKMLNDVDLLIIVP EKKLLKHVLPNIRIKGLSFSVKA-SMe (4) (SEQ ID NO: 46) by Protease-Catalyzed Ligation of Peptide 1 with Peptide 2

(96) Peptide 1 was solved 0.2 mM and peptide 2 was solved 0.6 mM in sodium-phosphate buffer (100 mM, pH 8.5, with 100 mM NaCl) containing 2% Triton X100 (Sigma Aldrich Chemie GmbH, Schnelldorf, Germany). After addition of 20 μM Clostripain (Endoprotease Arg-C, Worthington Biochemical Corporation, Lakewood, N.J., USA) the reaction mixture was shaken overnight at 37° C. The precipitated peptides were centrifuged, solved in H.sub.2O/ACN/Formic Acid 60/40/0.5 and purified by reversed-phase HPLC using a RP-18-column (Phenomenex, Aschaffenburg, Germany) with a gradient of ACN in water of 30% to 60% within 30 min. Product containing fractions were combined and freeze dried.

(97) The final peptide was analyzed by reversed phase UPLC (FIG. 5A) and ESI-mass spectrometry (FIG. 5B). The theoretical molecular weight (M.sub.theor=9199.3 Da) corresponds the observed molecular weight (M.sub.obs=9199.4 Da).

(98) 3.7 Synthesis of All-D Polymerase X Variant V80A by Native Chemical Ligation of Peptide 4 with Peptide 3

(99) Both peptides 3 and 4 were solved 0.2 M in TRIS-buffer (pH 8.6) containing 6 M GuanidinHCl (Sigma Aldrich Chemie GmbH, Schnelldorf, Germany), 200 mM mercaptophenyl-acetic acid (Sigma Aldrich Chemie GmbH, Schnelldorf, Germany) and 5 mm Tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine hydrochloride (Sigma Aldrich Chemie GmbH, Schnelldorf, Germany). The reaction mixture was shaking 72 h by room temperature. Afterwards the mixture was purified by reversed phase HPLC using a RP-8-column (Phenomenex, Aschaffenburg, Germany) with a gradient of ACN in water of 30% to 60% within 30 min. Fractions which contained the ligation product were pooled and dried. The dry powder was solved in water and purified by size exclusion chromatography using a SEC3000-column (Phenomenex, Aschaffenburg, Germany) with sodium-buffer phosphate (Sigma Aldrich Chemie GmbH, Schnelldorf, Germany) (50 mM, pH 6.8, 0.5% SDS) as eluent. Product containing fractions were combined and freeze dried.

(100) The final product was analyzed by SDS-PAGE (FIG. 6A) and ESI-mass spectrometry (FIG. 6B). A clear band was found in lane 7 between 14.4 kDa and 21.5 kDa indicating the pure full length polymerase. The theoretical molecular weight (M.sub.theor=20342 Da) corresponds the observed molecular weight (M.sub.obs=20361 Da) as shown by ESI-MS.

Example 4—Activity Confirmation of Synthetic Polymerase X Variant Consisting of D-Amino Acids

(101) The dry all-D polymerase X variant V80A according to example 3 was dissolved in 6 M guanidinium hydrochloride and refolded at 4° C. by step-wise dialysis in commercially available dialysis devices (Pierce/PerBio, Bonn, Germany) with 3,500 molecular weight cut-off. Final buffer was 50 mM sodium phosphate, 500 mM sodium chloride, pH 7.5. Protein concentration was estimated by sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) on pre-cast gels (Invitrogen, Karlsruhe, Germany) using a standard series of known protein concentrations followed by SYPRO-RED staining (Invitrogen, Karlsruhe, Germany) and densiometric band analysis on a BioRad Fx scanner instrument.

(102) The activity assay for the all-D polymerase X variant V80A was done with two different substrate types:

(103) 4.1 Activity Assays on Substrates with 1-Nucleotide Gap

(104) Substrates were made by annealing a 33-mer lower strand DNA oligonucleotide with two 17-mer upper strand DNA oligonucleotides resulting in a gap of 1 nucleotide in the upper strand. Oligonucleotides were synthesized in L-configuration. Before annealing, 17-mer upper strand oligonucleotide MJ_1_58_MD was radioactively labeled at its 5′-end with .sup.32P by a standard kinase reaction employing Gamma-.sup.32P-Adenosine-Triphosphate (Gamma-.sup.32P-ATP) and T4 polynucleotide kinase. To facilitate the kinase reaction of the L-oligonucleotide MJ_1_58_MD, two D-configurated guanosine bases were added at the 5′ end during oligonucleotide synthesis. Annealing was done in 10 mM Tris-HCl, 5 mM MgCl.sub.2, pH 8.0 by heating 10 mM at 65° C. and slowly cooling down. Unincorporated gamma-32P-ATP was removed by purification over NAP-columns (GE healthcare, Freiburg, Germany). The complexes contained either A, C, G or T at the template position within the gap. For the setup of the substrate complexes see FIG. 7.

(105) In the activity assay, synthetic all-D polymerase X variant V80A was combined with L-configurated 1-gap substrate complexes. As a negative control, each substrate was also incubated without all-D polymerase X variant V80A and L-desoxy-nucleotide-triphosphates (dNTP's). Depending on the template base within the 1-gap complex only the corresponding L-dNTP was added during the assay. A typical 6 μl assay contained 50 nM substrate complex, 1.7 ng/μl all-D polymerase X variant V80A, 8 μM of one L-dNTP and buffer (50 mM Tris-HCl, 10 mM MgCl.sub.2, 4% glycerol, 0.1 mg/ml bovine serum albumin (BSA), pH 7.5). L-dNTP's were purchased as custom synthesis from Rasayan, Inc. (Encinitas, Calif., USA). The incubation time was 30 minutes at 37° C. The whole assay volume was mixed with sample buffer/dye, loaded on a denaturing sequencing gel a separated for 4 hours. The gel was exposed to Kodak K screen overnight at −80° C. and read out using BioRad Fx phosphoimager system.

(106) As can be seen from FIG. 8, all-D polymerase X variant V80A gives elongation products on L-DNA 1-gap substrates, thus confirming the activity of the synthetic protein. Noteworthy, only all-D polymerase X variant V80A combined with L-substrate and L-dNTP's gave any elongation product. Also, only samples containing the L-dNTP corresponding to their template base yielded elongation product. That means on the A-complex the dTTP nucleotide, on the C-complex the dGTP nucleotide, on the G-complex the dCTP nucleotide and on the T-complex the dATP nucleotide had to be present to yield any elongation product.

(107) 4.2 Activity Assay on Substrates with 6-Nucleotide Gap

(108) Substrates were made by annealing a 33-mer lower strand DNA oligonucleotide with two 17-mer and 12-mer upper strand DNA oligonucleotides resulting in a gap of 6 nucleotides in the upper strand. Oligonucleotides were synthesized in L-configuration. Before annealing, 17-mer upper strand oligonucleotide MJ_1_58_MD (L-configuration) was radioactively labeled at its 5′-end with .sup.32P by a standard kinase reaction employing Gamma-.sup.32P-Adenosine-Triphosphate (ATP) and T4 polynucleotide kinase. To facilitate the kinase reaction of the L-oligonucleotide MJ_1_58_MD, two D-configurated guanosine bases were added at the 5′ end during oligonucleotide synthesis. Annealing was done in 10 mM Tris-HCl, 5 mM MgCl.sub.2, pH 8.0 by heating 10 min at 65° C. and slowly cooling down. Unincorporated Gamma-.sup.32P-ATP was removed by purification over NAP-columns (GE healthcare, Freiburg, Germany). For the setup of the substrate complexes see FIG. 9A.

(109) In the activity assay synthetic all-D polymerase X variant V80A was combined with L-configurated 6-gap substrate complex. As a negative control, the substrate was also incubated without all-D polymerase X variant V80A and desoxy-nucleotide-triphosphates (L-dNTP's). A typical 6 μl assay contained 50 nM substrate complex, up to 1.3 ng/μl all-D polymerase X variant V80A, 8 μM each of the L-dNTP's and buffer (50 mM Tris-HCl, 10 mM MgCl.sub.2, 4% glycerol, 0.1 mg/ml bovine serum albumin (BSA), pH 7.5). L-dNTP's were purchased as custom synthesis by Rasayan, Inc. (Encinitas, Calif., USA). A typical incubation time was 30 minutes at 37° C., but depending on activity of the batch longer incubations were used. The whole assay volume was mixed with sample buffer/dye, loaded on a denaturing sequencing gel a separated for 4 hours. The gel was exposed to Kodak K screen overnight at −80° C. and read out using BioRad Fx phosphoimager system.

(110) As can be seen from FIG. 9B, synthetic all-D polymerase X variant V80A gives N+6 elongation products on L-DNA 6-gap substrates, thus confirming the activity of the synthetic protein. However, synthesis of N+6 elongation product was less evident than N+1 elongation product on the same 6-gap complex. Also increased incubation time was necessary to fill the 6-gap. Noteworthy, only all-D polymerase X variant V80A combined with L-substrate plus L-dNTP's gave any elongation product.

Example 5—DNA Synthesis by Polymerase X and Variants of Polymerase X

(111) Polymerase X from African Swine Fever Virus (abbr. ASFV) is described in literature (Oliveros, 1997) as a highly distributive enzyme with gap-repair function. As shown in example 2 all-L-polymerase X and variants thereof has been shown to catalyze the incorporation of only very few nucleotides after each initiation on gapped substrates. Here we disclose a method which allows using all-L-polymerase X and variants for synthesizing longer DNA and show complete polymerization of a 83-mer strand.

(112) 5.1 Primer-Template Substrate

(113) A primer-template complex has been used to test activity of all-L-polymerase X and variants thereof. The same complex has also been used to test variants V80G and V80A of the all-L-polymerase X.

(114) List of D-oligonucleotides for the primer-template complex without gap:

(115) TABLE-US-00007 Length, Config- Name nt uration Sequence (5′.fwdarw.3′) MJ_1_33_DD 19 D Atto532-GGAGCTCAGACTGGCACGC (SEQ ID NO: 47) MJ_1_1_DD 83 D GTGGAACCGACAACTTGTGCTGCGTCCAGCATAAGAAAGGAG CTCCCTCAGAAGAAGCTGCGCAGCGTGCCAGTCTGAGCTCC (SEQ ID NO: 48)

(116) The substrate was made by annealing a template strand DNA oligonucleotide consisting of 83 nucleotides (MJ_1_1_DD) with a DNA oligonucleotide consisting of 19 nucleotides. Oligonucleotides were synthesized at NOXXON. The oligonucleotide MJ_1_33_DD carries the fluorescent dye Atto-532 (AttoTec, Siegen, Germany). Annealing was done in 10 mM Tris-HCl, 5 mM MgCl2, pH 8.0 by heating 10 mM at 65° C. and slowly cooling down. The primer-template complex is depicted in FIG. 10A.

(117) 5.2 Reaction at Constant Temperature

(118) In the activity assay, all-L-polymerase X or variants V80G or V80A of all-L-polymerase X were combined with D-configurated primer-template complex. A typical 6 μl assay contained 50 nM substrate complex, up to 1.3 ng/μl all-L-polymerase X or variants V80G or V80A of all-L-polymerase X, 8 μM each of the D-dNTP's and buffer (50 mM Tris-HCl, 10 mM MgCl.sub.2, 4% glycerol, 0.1 mg/ml bovine serum albumin (BSA), pH 7.5). D-dNTP's were purchased from Rovalab (Teltow, Germany). Incubation time was 30 minutes at 37° C. for Pol-X samples. As a negative control, the substrate was also incubated without any all-L-polymerase X or variants V80G or V80A of all-L-polymerase X and without desoxy-nucleotide-triphosphates (D-dNTP's). A positive control was conducted with Taq polymerase (Invitrogen, Karlsruhe, Germany) used at final concentration of 0.083 U/μl in Taq buffer supplied by manufacturer. Taq samples were incubated 30 minutes at 60° C. The whole assay volume was mixed with sample buffer/dye, and separated on a denaturing gel. The gel was read out using BioRad Fx phosphoimager system.

(119) All-L-polymerase X or variants V80G or V80A all-L-polymerase X were active, but were not able to complete the polymerization of the full 83-mer template. The Taq polymerase positive control shows complete polymerization of the 83-mer template, see FIG. 10B.

(120) 5.3 Reaction Under Thermal Cycling Conditions

(121) Under the assumption that all-L-polymerase X after initiation catalyzes the incorporation of only one nucleotide and then pauses while staying on the DNA substrate, we performed repeated heat pulses (50° C., 2 minutes) in order to allow all-L-polymerase X for dissociation from and reassociation to the template. Using this repeated thermal cycling procedure we were able to perform full polymerization of the 83-mer with all-L-polymerase X. Reactions and controls were set-up as described above for constant temperature, except that the temperature profile for all-L-polymerase X samples was run as follows:

(122) 5 to 25 cycles of (30 minutes at 20° C./2 minutes at 50° C.)

(123) then a final step of 30 minutes at 20° C.

(124) It was observed that from 15 cycles onwards all-L-polymerase X was able to polymerize the full 83-mer template strand, similar to the positive control, see FIG. 10C.

Example 6—Primer Elongation with a Synthetic Polymerase X Variant Consisting of D-Amino Acids

(125) The method disclosed in this example uses L-configurated substrates for testing all-D configurated polymerase.

(126) 6.1 Primer-Template Substrate

(127) List of L-oligonucleotides for the primer-template complex without gap:

(128) TABLE-US-00008 Length, Config- Name nt uration Sequence (5′.fwdarw.3′) MJ_1_109_MD 21 first D(GG)-L(GGAGCTCAGACTGGCACGC) (SEQ ID NO: 49) two = D, others L MJ_1_105_LD 83 L GTGGAACCGACAACTTGTGCTGCGTCCAGCATAAGAAAGGAG CTCCCTCAGAAGAAGCTGCGCAGCGTGCCAGTCTGAGCTCC (SEQ ID NO: 23)

(129) The substrate is made by annealing a 83-mer lower strand DNA oligonucleotide with the 19-mer upper strand DNA oligonucleotide. Oligonucleotides are synthesized at NOXXON's in-house facility in L-configuration. Before annealing, 21-mer upper strand oligonucleotide MJ_1_109_MD is radioactively labeled at its 5′-end with .sup.32P by a standard kinase reaction employing Gamma-.sup.32P-Adenosine-Triphosphate (ATP) and T4 polynucleotide kinase. To facilitate the kinase reaction of the L-oligonucleotide MJ_1_109_MD, two D-configurated guanosine bases are added at the 5′ end during oligonucleotide synthesis. Annealing is done in 10 mM Tris-HCl, 5 mM MgCl.sub.2, pH 8.0 by heating 10 min at 65° C. and slowly cooling down. Unincorporated Gamma-.sup.32P-ATP is removed by purification over NAP-columns (GE healthcare, Freiburg, Germany).

(130) 6.2 Reaction at Constant Temperature

(131) In the activity assay, synthetic all-D polymerase X variant V80A is combined with L-configurated primer-template complex. A typical 6 μl assay contains 50 nM substrate complex, up to 1.3 ng/μl all-D polymerase X variant, 8 μM each of the L-dNTP's and buffer (50 mM Tris-HCl, 10 mM MgCl.sub.2, 4% glycerol, 0.1 mg/ml bovine serum albumin (BSA), pH 7.5). L-dNTP's were purchased from Rasayan, Inc. (Encinitas, Calif., USA). Incubation time is at least 30 minutes at 37° C. As a negative control, the substrate is also incubated without any polymerase and without desoxy-nucleotide-triphosphates (L-dNTP's). The whole assay volume is mixed with sample buffer/dye, and separated on a denaturing gel. The gel is read out using BioRad Fx phosphoimager system.

(132) The synthetic all-D polymerase X variant V80A is active under this condition, but—similar to the all-L polymerase X counterpart—is not able to polymerize the full 83 nucleotide template strand.

(133) 6.3 Reaction Under Thermal Cycling Conditions

(134) Analog to example 5 a repeated thermal cycling procedure is used to allow for full polymerization of the 83-mer L-substrate with All-D Polymerase X variant V80A. Reactions and controls are set-up as described above for constant temperature, except that the temperature profile was run as follows:

(135) 5 to 25 cycles of (30 minutes at 20° C./2 minutes at 50° C.)

(136) then a final step of 30 minutes at 20° C.

(137) It is observed that all-D polymerase X variant V80A—similar to the all-L polymerase X counterpart—is able to polymerize the full 83-mer template strand when using thermal cycle elongation.

Example 7—Recombinant Expression and Purification of Polymerase Dpo4 and Variants of Polymerase Dpo4, all Consisting of L-Amino Acids

(138) The polymerase Dpo4 was originally discovered in Sulfolobus Solfataricus (abbr. Sso) (Boudsocq, 2001). The wild-type gene has an open reading frame (abbr. ORF) of 1,059 base pairs including start codon and stop codon. The encoded protein has a length of 352 amino acids. This example describes how polymerase Dpo4 and variants of polymerase Dpo4 have been expressed in E. coli and been purified using Strep-Tag.

(139) 7.1 Expression Constructs

(140) Since the codon usage of Sso differs from E. coli, an E. coli-codon-optimized synthetic gene for wild-type Sso polymerase Dpo4 was purchased from GeneArt AG (Regensburg, Germany). The synthetic gene sequence was provided in pENTRY-IBA10 vector (originator company: IBA GmbH, Göttingen, Germany). The codon-optimized open reading frame including start codon, but not including stop codon had the following sequence:

(141) TABLE-US-00009  (SEQ ID NO: 50) ATGATTGTGCTGTTTGTGGATTTTGATTATTTTTATGCCCAGGTGGAAGA AGTTCTGAATCCGAGCCTGAAAGGTAAACCGGTTGTTGTTTGTGTTTTTA GCGGTCGCTTTGAAGATAGCGGTGCAGTTGCAACCGCCAATTATGAAGCC CGTAAATTTGGTGTTAAAGCCGGTATTCCGATTGTTGAAGCCAAAAAAAT TCTGCCGAATGCAGTTTATCTGCCGATGCGCAAAGAAGTTTATCAGCAGG TTAGCAGCCGTATTATGAATCTGCTGCGCGAATATAGCGAAAAAATTGAA ATTGCCAGCATTGATGAAGCCTATCTGGATATTAGCGATAAAGTGCGCGA TTATCGCGAAGCATATAATCTGGGCCTGGAAATTAAAAATAAAATCCTGG AAAAAGAAAAAATTACCGTGACCGTGGGCATTAGCAAAAATAAAGTGTTT GCCAAAATTGCAGCAGATATGGCAAAACCGAATGGCATTAAAGTGATTGA TGATGAAGAAGTGAAACGTCTGATTCGCGAACTGGATATTGCAGATGTTC CGGGTATTGGCAATATTACCGCAGAAAAACTGAAAAAACTGGGCATTAAT AAACTGGTTGATACCCTGAGCATTGAATTTGATAAACTGAAAGGCATGAT TGGTGAAGCGAAAGCCAAATATCTGATTAGCCTGGCACGTGATGAATATA ATGAACCGATTCGTACCCGTGTTCGTAAAAGCATTGGTCGTATTGTGACC ATGAAACGCAATAGCCGTAATCTGGAAGAAATTAAACCGTACCTGTTTCG TGCAATTGAAGAAAGCTATTATAAACTGGATAAACGCATTCCGAAAGCCA TTCATGTTGTTGCAGTTACCGAAGATCTGGATATTGTTAGCCGTGGTCGT ACCTTTCCGCATGGTATTAGCAAAGAAACCGCCTATAGCGAAAGCGTTAA ACTGCTGCAGAAAATCCTGGAAGAAGATGAACGTAAAATTCGTCGTATTG GTGTGCGCTTTAGCAAATTTATTGAAGCCATTGGCCTGGATAAATTTTTT GATACC.

(142) In order to obtain the expression construct for polymerase Dpo4, also referred to as all-L-polymerase Dpo4, the gene was subcloned from pENTRY-IBA10 into the pASG-IBA5 vector (IBA GmbH, Göttingen, Germany), using a commercially available StarGate cloning kit (IBA GmbH). Subcloning added a Strep-Tag II to the N-terminus and a stop codon to the C-terminus, and brought the gene under control of the tet promoter. The construct was named pMJ343 and was used for expression of all-L-polymerase Dpo4 in E. coli. The all-L-polymerase Dpo4 expressed from pMJ343 had the following sequence of 368 amino acids:

(143) TABLE-US-00010 (SEQ ID NO: 51) MASAWSHPQFEKSGMIVLFVDFDYFYAQVEEVLNPSLKGKPVVVCVFSGR FEDSGAVATANYEARKFGVKAGIPIVEAKKILPNAVYLPMRKEVYQQVSS RIMNLLREYSEKIEIASIDEAYLDISDKVRDYREAYNLGLEIKNKILEKE KITVTVGISKNKVFAKIAADMAKPNGIKVIDDEEVKRLIRELDIADVPGI GNITAEKLKKLGINKLVDTLSIEFDKLKGMIGEAKAKYLISLARDEYNEP IRTRVRKSIGRIVTMKRNSRNLEEIKPYLFRAIEESYYKLDKRIPKAIHV VAVTEDLDIVSRGRTFPHGISKETAYSESVKLLQKILEEDERKIRRIGVR FSKFIEAIGLDKFFDTGS.

(144) The initial 14 amino acids represented the Strep-Tag II including a few spacer amino acids, the final 2 amino acids represented spacer amino acids, and the middle 352 amino acid part was identical to the polymerase Dpo4 sequence as found in Sso.

(145) Expression constructs for variants of all-L-polymerase Dpo4 were made using the commercially available QuikChange kit (Stratagene GmbH, Waldbronn, Germany) according to manufacturer's protocol. Plasmid pMJ343 served as template to make pMJ361, pMJ362, pMJ363, pMJ502, pMJ503 and pMJ504. Plasmid pMJ343 also served as template to make pMJ365 in two steps. Then pMJ365 served as template to make pMJ508, pMJ509, pJA95, pJA96, pJA100, pJA103 and pJA104. Then pMJ509 served as template to make pMJ511. Oligonucleotides needed for QuikChange were either synthesized at NOXXON (QC_38_up, QC_38_low, QC_39_up, QC_39_low, QC_40_up, QC_40_low, QC_41_up, QC_41_low, QC_dpo4_M76G_sense, QC_dpo4_M76G_antisense, QC_dpo4_M76A_sense, QC_dpo4_M76A_antisense, QC_dpo4 J67C_sense, QC_dpo4 J67C_antisense, QC_dpo4_S86G_sense, QC_dpo4_S86G_antisense) or purchased from Purimex (Grebenstein, Germany) (QC_28_up, QC_28_low, QC_29_up, QC_29_low, QC_30_up, QC_30_low).

(146) The following variant expression constructs were made and used for expression of the variants of all-L-polymerase Dpo4 in E. coli

(147) TABLE-US-00011 oligonucleotides variant construct used for QuikChange mutagenesis procedure A155C pMJ361 QC_28_up. (5′CAAAAATAAAGTGTTTGCCAAAATTGCATGCGATATGGCAAAACCG AATGGCATTAAAG 3′) (SEQ ID NO: 52) QC_28_low (5′CTTTAATGCCATTCGGTTTTGCCATATCGCATGCAATTTTGGCAAA CACTTTATTTTTG 3′) (SEQ ID NO: 53) V203C pMJ362 QC_29_up (5′TGAAAAAACTGGGCATTAATAAACTGTGTGATACCCTGAGCATTGA ATTTG 3′) (SEQ ID NO: 54) QC_29_low (5′-CAAATTCAATGCTCAGGGTATCACACAGTTTATTAATGCCCAGTTT TTTCA 3′) (SEQ ID NO: 55) C31S pMJ363 QC_30_up (5′TGAAAGGTAAACCGGTTGTTGTTTCTGTTTTTAGCGGTC 3′) (SEQ ID NO: 56) QC_30_low (5′GACCGCTAAAAACAGAAACAACAACCGGTTTACCTTTCA 3′) (SEQ ID NO: 57) A155C pMJ365 QC_28_up + QC_28_low V203C QC_29_up QC_29_low S85C pMJ502 QC_38_up (5′ATGCGCAAAGAAGTTTATCAGCAGGTTTGTAGCCGTATTATGAATC 3′) (SEQ ID NO: 58) QC_38_low (5′GATTCATAATACGGCTACAAACCTGCTGATAAACTTCTTTGCGCAT- 3′) (SEQ ID NO: 59) S86C pMJ503 QC_39_up (5′AAGTTTATCAGCAGGTTAGCTGTCGTATTATGAATCTGCTGCG 3′) (SEQ ID NO: 60) QC_39_low (5′CGCAGCAGATTCATAATACGACAGCTAACCTGCTGATAAACTT 3′) (SEQ ID NO: 61) S96C pMJ504 QC_40_up (5′ATTATGAATCTGCTGCGCGAATATTGTGAAAAAATTGAAATTGCCA GCATT 3′) (SEQ ID NO: 62) QC_40_low (5′AATGCTGGCAATTTCAATTTTTTCACAATATTCGCGCAGCAGATTC ATAAT 3′) (SEQ ID NO: 63) A71C pMJ508 QC_41_up + (5′AGCCAAAAAAATTCTGCCGAATTGTGTTTATCTGCCGATGCGCAAA A155C G 3′) (SEQ ID NO: 353) + QC_41_low V203C (5′CTTTGCGCATCGGCAGATAAACACAATTCGGCAGAATTTTTTTGGCT 3′) (SEQ ID NO: 354) S86C + pMJ509  QC_39_up A155C QC_39_low + V203C C31S + pMJ511 QC_30_up S86C + QC_30_low A155C + V203C M76G pJA95 QC_dpo4_M76G_sense + (5′CGAATGCAGTTTATCTGCCGGGGCGCAAAGAAGTTTATCAGC 3′) A155C (SEQ ID NO: 355) + QC_dpo4_M76G_antisense V203C (5′GCTGATAAACTTCTTTGCGCCCCGGCAGATAAACTGCATTCG 3′) (SEQ ID NO: 356) M76A pJA96 QC_dpo4_M76A_sense + (5′-CGAATGCAGTTTATCTGCCGGCGCGCAAAGAAGTTTATCAGC 3′) A155C (SEQ ID NO: 357) + QC_dpo4_M76A_antisense V203C (5 ′ GCTGATAAACTTCTTTGCGCGCCGGCAGATAAACTGCATTCG 3′) (SEQ ID NO: 358) I67C + pJA100 QC_dpo4_I67C_sense A155C (5′GGTATTCCGATTGTTGAAGCCAAAAAATGTCTGCCGAATGCAG + 3′) (SEQ ID NO: 359) V203C QC_dpo4_I67C_antisense (5′CTGCATTCGGCAGACATTTTTTGGCTTCAACAATCGGAATACC 3′) (SEQ ID NO: 360) S86G + pJA103 QC_dpo4_S86G_sense A155C (5′GTTTATCAGCAGGTTAGCGGCCGTATTATGAATCTGC 3′) + (SEQ ID NO: 361) V203C QC_dpo4_S86G_antisense (5′GCAGATTCATAATACGGCCGCTAACCTGCTGATAAAC 3′) (SEQ ID NO: 362) S96C + pJA104 QC_40_up A155C QC_40_low + V203C

(148) 7.2 Protein Expression in E. coli

(149) All-L-polymerase Dpo4 was expressed in E. coli using expression construct pMJ343. Mutant variants of all-L-polymerase Dpo4 were expressed from pMJ361, pMJ362, pMJ363, pMJ365, pMJ502, pMJ503, pMJ504, pMJ508, pMJ509, pMJ511, pJA95, pJA96, pJA100, pJA103 or pJA104. For expression, the appropriate expression construct was transformed in E. coli strain ‘NEB express’ (New England Biolabs, Frankfurt am Main, Germany) using ‘Transformation and Storage Solution’ (Epicentre/Biozym, Hessisch Oldendorf, Germany) and maintained with the antibiotic Ampicillin. Expression was done in medium ‘EnBase Flo’ or ‘EnPresso’ (BioSilta, Oulu, Finland) for 48 h at 30° C. using 200 ng/ml Anhydrotetracyclin (IBA GmbH, Göttingen, Germany) as inducer. Cells were harvested by centrifugation and either stored at −80° C. or immediately processed.

(150) 7.3 Protein Purification

(151) Fresh or frozen E. coli cells were resuspended on ice in ‘Buffer W’ (100 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.0, 150 mM NaCl, 1 mM EDTA) and lysed using a ‘French Press’ (G. Heinemann, Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany) cell disrupter. Purification was done at 4° C. on an ‘ÄKTA Express’ system equipped with 5 ml StrepTrap HP columns (GE healthcare, Freiburg, Germany). Step elution was done with Buffer W including 2.5 mM Desthiobiotin (IBA GmbH, Göttingen, Germany). Fractions were analyzed using SDS-PAGE (Invitrogen, Karlsruhe, Germany), pooled and, if required, further purified with anion-ion-exchange chromatography on an ‘ÄKTA purifier’ system equipped with ‘Q HP’ columns (GE healthcare, Freiburg, Germany). Protein identity was confirmed by LC-MS mass spectometry and correct fractions were pooled, concentrated and re-buffered using VivaSpin 15R concentration devices with 10,000 molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) (VivaSciences/Sartorius Stedim Biotech, Göttingen, Germany). Purified protein was stored at −20° C. in a buffer consisting of 100 mM KCl, 10 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.4, 0.1 mM EDTA, 1 mM DTT, 50% glycerol. Protein concentrations were estimated by gel-densiometry using a bovine serum albumin (abbr. BSA) standard on SDS-PAGE and staining with SYPRO Red (Invitrogen, Karlsruhe, Germany).

Example 8—Production of a Synthetic Polymerase Dpo4 Consisting of Two Fragments

(152) All-L polymerase Dpo4 has a length of 352 amino acids. In order to chemically produce the all-L polymerase Dpo4, such a synthetic all-L polymerase Dpo4 had to be assembled from shorter fragments that can be synthesized by solid-phase peptide synthesis, wherein said shorter fragments had to be ligated by a peptide ligation method such as the native chemical ligation. This example describes how ligation fragments 1-154, 155-352, 155-202 and 203-352 of Dpo4 have been expressed in E. coli, purified and ligated to each other by native chemical ligation to yield the synthetic all-L-polymerase Dpo4.

(153) 8.1 Expression Constructs

(154) As disclosed in example 7 the gene for all-L-polymerase Dpo4 has been obtained as a synthetic gene construct from a commercial source (GeneArt, Regensburg, Germany). All fragments of this example were cloned based on that codon-optimized sequence. The following expression constructs for fragments 1-154, 155-352, 155-202 and 203-352 of the all-L-polymerase Dpo4 variant A155C were made:

(155) TABLE-US-00012 Fragment of Dpo4 (amino acid range) expression construct 1-154-thioester pMJ370 155-352 pMJ384 contained A155C mutation 203-352 pMJ385 contained A155C mutation 155-202 thioester pMJ388

(156) 8.1.1 Fragment 1-154-Thioester of all-L-Polymerase Dpo4 Variant A155C—Expression Construct pMJ370

(157) This construct contains the fragment 1-154 of the all-L-polymerase Dpo4 variant A155C followed by an Mxe GyrA intein, which was used to produce the thioester, and a chitin-binding domain (CBD). The construct was assembled from two PCR products. PCR product 1 was made using pMJ343 as a template and primers MJ_1_90_DD (5′-Phosphate-AGCGGCTCTTCGATGATTGTGCTGTTTGTGGATTTT-3′, (SEQ ID NO: 64)) and MJ_1_91_DD (5′-Phosphate-AGCGGCTCTTCGGCATGCAATTTTGGCAAACACTTT-3′, (SEQ ID NO: 65)) to amplify the fragment 1-154 of all-L-polymerase Dpo4 variant A155C. PCR product 2 was made using pTWIN1 (New England Biolabs, Frankfurt am Main, Germany) as a template and primers MJ_1_72_DD (5′-Phosphate-AGCGGCTCTTCGTGCATCACGGGAGAT-3′, (SEQ ID NO: 66)) and MJ_1_73_DD (5′-Phosphate-AGCGGCTCTTCGCCCTTGAAGCTGCCACAAGGCAGGAACGTT-3′, (SEQ ID NO: 67)) to amplify the Mxe Gyr A intein and the CBD. Primers MJ_1_90_DD and MJ_1_91_DD were from Purimex (Grebenstein, Germany) while primers MJ_1_72_DD and MJ_1_73_DD were from IBA GmbH (Göttingen, Germany). The two PCR products were gel-purified on a flash-gel system (LONZA, Basel, Switzerland) and cloned together in pENTRY-IBA20 using the StarGate Mutagenesis ENTRY cloning kit (IBA GmbH, Göttingen, Germany) to result in pMJ366. Subcloning from pMJ366 in pASG-IBAwt1 (IBA GmbH, Göttingen, Germany) using the StarGate Transfer cloning kit (IBA GmbH, Göttingen, Germany) yielded pMJ370. The construct pMJ370 encodes the fragment 1-154-thioester of all-L-polymerase Dpo4 variant A155C with the following protein sequence of 154 amino acids length (after intein cleavage/thioester production):

(158) TABLE-US-00013 (SEQ ID NO: 68) MIVLFVDFDYFYAQVEEVLNPSLKGKPVVVCVFSGRFEDSGAVATANYEA RKFGVKAGIPIVEAKKILPNAVYLPMRKEVYQQVSSRIMNLLREYSEKIE IASIDEAYLDISDKVRDYREAYNLGLEIKNKILEKEKITVTVGISKNKVF AKIA-thioester.

(159) 8.1.2 Fragment 155-352 of all-L-Polymerase Dpo4 Variant A155C—Expression Construct pMJ384

(160) This construct contains a ‘Profinity eXact’ tag followed by the fragment 155-352 of all-L-polymerase Dpo4 variant A155C. The ‘Profinity eXact’ tag was used for purification and proteolytic cleavage. The construct was assembled from two PCR products. PCR product 1 was made using pPAL7 (Bio-Rad, München, Germany) as a template and primers MJ_1_99_DD (5′-Phosphate-AGCGGCTCTTCGATGGGAGGGAAATCAAACGGGGAA-3′, (SEQ ID: 69)) and MJ_1_100_DD (5′-Phosphate-AGCGGCTCTTCGGCACAAAGCTTTGAAGAGCTTGTC-3′, (SEQ ID: 70)) to amplify the ‘Profinity eXact’ tag. PCR product 2 was made using pMJ361 as a template and primers MJ_1_96_DD (5′-Phosphate-AGCGGCTCTTCGTGCGATATGGCAAAACCGAATGGCATTAAA-3′, (SEQ ID: 71)) and MJ_1_97_DD (5′-Phosphate-AGCGGCTCTTCGCCCTTAGGTATCAAAAAATTTATCCAGG-3′, (SEQ ID: 72)) to amplify the dpo4 fragment 155-352 containing the A155C mutation. Primers MJ_1_96_DD, MJ_1_97_DD, MJ_1_99_DD and MJ_1_100_DD were all from Purimex (Grebenstein, Germany). The 2 PCR products were gel-purified on a flash-gel system (LONZA, Basel, Switzerland) and cloned together in pENTRY-IBA20 using the StarGate Mutagenesis ENTRY cloning kit (IBA GmbH, Göttingen, Germany) to result in pMJ382. Subcloning from pMJ382 in pASG-IBA5 (IBA GmbH, Göttingen, Germany) using the StarGate Transfer cloning kit (IBA GmbH, Göttingen, Germany) yielded pMJ384. The construct pMJ384 encodes the fragment 155-352 of all-L-polymerase Dpo4 containing mutation A155C with the following protein sequence of 198 amino acids length (after proteolytic cleavage):

(161) TABLE-US-00014 (SEQ ID NO: 73) custom character DMAKPNGIKVIDDEEVKRLIRELDIADVPGIGNITAEKLKKLGINKL VDTLSIEFDKLKGMIGEAKAKYLISLARDEYNEPIRTRVRKSIGRIVTM KRNSRNLEEIKPYLFRAIEESYYKLDKRIPKAIHVVAVTEDLDIVSRGR TFPHGISKETAYSESVKLLQKILEEDERKIRRIGVRFSKFIEAIGLDKF FDT.

(162) 8.1.3 Fragment 203-352 of all-L-Polymerase Dpo4 Variant A155C—Expression Construct pMJ385

(163) This construct contains a ‘Profinity eXact’ tag followed by the dpo4 fragment 203-352 containing mutation V203C. The ‘Profinity eXact’ tag was used for purification and proteolytic cleavage. The construct was assembled from two PCR products. PCR product 1 was made using pPAL7 (Bio-Rad, München, Germany) as a template and primers MJ_1_99_DD (5′-Phosphate-AGCGGCTCTTCGATGGGAGGGAAATCAAACGGGGAA-3′, (SEQ ID: 69)) and MJ_1_100_DD (5′-Phosphate-AGCGGCTCTTCGGCACAAAGCTTTGAAGAGCTTGTC-3′, (SEQ ID: 70)) to amplify the ‘Profinity eXact’ tag. PCR product 2 was made using pMJ362 as a template and primers MJ_1_98_DD (5′-Phosphate-AGCGGCTCTTCGTGTGATACCCTGAGCATTGAATTT-3′, (SEQ ID: 74)) and MJ_1_97_DD (5′-Phosphate-AGCGGCTCTTCGCCCTTAGGTATCAAAAAATTTATCCAGG-3′, (SEQ ID: 72)) to amplify the dpo4 fragment 203-352 containing the V203C mutation. Primers MJ_1_97_DD, MJ_1_98_DD, MJ_1_99_DD and MJ_1_100_DD were all from Purimex (Grebenstein, Germany). The 2 PCR products were gel-purified on a flash-gel system (LONZA, Basel, Switzerland) and cloned together in pENTRY-IBA20 using the StarGate Mutagenesis ENTRY cloning kit (IBA GmbH, Göttingen, Germany) to result in pMJ383. Subcloning from pMJ383 in pASG-IBA5 (IBA GmbH, Göttingen, Germany) using the StarGate Transfer cloning kit (IBA GmbH, Göttingen, Germany) yielded pMJ385. The construct pMJ385 encodes the dpo4 fragment 203-352 V203C with the following protein sequence of 150 amino acids length (after proteolytic cleavage):

(164) TABLE-US-00015 (SEQ ID NO: 73) custom character DTLSIEFDKLKGMIGEAKAKYLISLARDEYNEPIRTRVRKSIGRIVT MKRNSRNLEEIKPYLFRAIEESYYKLDKRIPKAIHVVAVTEDLDIVSRG RTFPHGISKETAYSESVKLLQKILEEDERKIRRIGVRFSKFIEAIGLDK FFDT

(165) 8.1.4 Fragment 155-202 of all-L-Polymerase Dpo4—Expression Construct pMJ388

(166) This construct contains the dpo4 fragment 155-202 followed by an Mxe GyrA intein, which was used to produce the thioester, and a chitin-binding domain (CBD). The construct was assembled from two PCR products. PCR product 1 was made using pMJ343 as a template and primers MJ_1_101_DD (5′-Phosphate-AGCGGCTCTTCGATGGCAGATATGGCAAAACCGAAT-3′, (SEQ ID: 76)) and MJ_1_102_DD (5′-Phosphate-AGCGGCTCTTCGGCACAGTTTATTAATGCCCAGTTT-3′, (SEQ ID: 77)) to amplify the dpo4 155-202 fragment. PCR product 2 was made using pTWIN1 (New England Biolabs, Frankfurt am Main, Germany) as a template and primers MJ_1_72_DD (5′-Phosphate-AGCGGCTCTTCGTGCATCACGGGAGAT-3′, (SEQ ID: 66)) and MJ_1_73_DD (5′-Phosphate-AGCGGCTCTTCGCCCTTGAAGCTGCCACAAGGCAGGAACGTT-3′, (SEQ ID: 67)) to amplify the Mxe Gyr A intein and the CBD. Primers MJ_1_101_DD and MJ_1_102_DD were from Purimex (Grebenstein, Germany) while primers MJ_1_72_DD and MJ_1_73_DD were from IBA GmbH (Göttingen, Germany). The 2 PCR products were gel-purified on a flash-gel system (LONZA, Basel, Switzerland) and cloned together in pENTRY-IBA20 using the StarGate Mutagenesis ENTRY cloning kit (IBA GmbH, Göttingen, Germany) to result in pMJ386. Subcloning from pMJ386 in pASG-IBAwt1 (IBA GmbH, Göttingen, Germany) using the StarGate Transfer cloning kit (IBA GmbH, Göttingen, Germany) yielded pMJ388. The construct pMJ388 encodes the dpo4 fragment 155-202 with the following protein sequence of 48 amino acids length (after E. coli mediated cleavage of the initial Methionine and after intein cleavage/thioester production):

(167) TABLE-US-00016 (SEQ ID NO: 78) ADMAKPNGIKVIDDEEVKRLIRELDIADVPGIGNITAEKLKKLGINKL- thioester

(168) 8.2 Protein Expression in E. coli

(169) For expression, the appropriate expression construct was transformed in E. coli strain ‘NEB express’ (New England Biolabs, Frankfurt am Main, Germany) using ‘Transformation and Storage Solution’ (Epicentre/Biozym, Hessisch Oldendorf, Germany) and maintained with the antibiotic Ampicillin. Expression was done in medium ‘EnBase Flo’ or ‘EnPresso’ (BioSilta, Oulu, Finland) at ambient temperature, using 200 ng/ml Anhydrotetracyclin (IBA GmbH, Göttingen, Germany) as inducer during an overnight period. Cells were harvested by centrifugation and either stored at −80° C. or immediately processed.

(170) 8.3 Purification and Generation of a Thioester from Constructs pMJ370 and pMJ388 with Mxe Gyr A Intein

(171) Fresh or frozen E. coli cells were resuspended on ice in ‘column buffer’ (20 mM HEPES, pH 8.5, 500 mM NaCl) and lysed using a ‘French Press’ (G. Heinemann, Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany) cell disrupter. Purification was done at 4° C. on an ‘ÄKTA Express’ system (GE healthcare, Freiburg, Germany) equipped with columns containing chitin binding beads (New Englands Biolabs, Frankfurt am Main, Germany). After applying cell lysate and washing with column buffer until baseline, the columns were incubated 20 hours at 4° C. with 50 mM 2-mercaptoethane sulfonate (abbr. MESNA) in column buffer to induce intein-mediated protein cleavage and thioester formation. Cleaved protein carrying thioester was washed out of the column with column buffer, concentrated and subjected to gelfiltration using BioGel P60 medium material (BioRad, München, Germany) in a buffer consisting of 5 mM Bis-Tris, pH 6.5, 250 mM NaCl. Protein concentrations were estimated by gel-densiometry using a bovine serum albumin (BSA) standard on SDS-PAGE and staining with SYPRO Red (Invitrogen, Karlsruhe, Germany). Protein identity and the presence of the thioester were confirmed by LC-MS mass spectrometry.

(172) 8.4 Purification and Proteolytic Cleavage from Construct pMJ384 with ‘Profinity eXact’ Tag

(173) Purification of fragment 155-352 of the all-L-polymerase Dpo4 variant A155C from pMJ384 was done as follows: Fresh or frozen E. coli cells were resuspended on ice in ‘Buffer W’ (100 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.0, 150 mM NaCl, 1 mM EDTA) and lysed using a ‘French Press’ (G. Heinemann, Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany) cell disrupter. Purification was done at 4° C. on an ‘ÄKTA Express’ system equipped with 5 ml StrepTrap HP columns (GE healthcare, Freiburg, Germany). Step elution was done with Buffer W including 2.5 mM Desthiobiotin (IBA GmbH, Göttingen, Germany). Eluted protein was subjected to buffer exchange in ‘Profinity eXact elution buffer’ (0.1 M Na-phosphate, pH 7.2, 0.1 M NaF) using a HiPrep 26/10 desalting column (GE healthcare, Freiburg, Germany) and then slowly pumped through a Profinity eXact column. The sample was concentrated, supplemented with Tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine) (TCEP) to 1 mM final concentration and applied to gelfiltration using a HiLoad 16/60 Superdex 75 prep grade column (GE healthcare, Freiburg, Germany) developed in a buffer consisting of 5 mM Bis-Tris, pH 6.5, 250 mM NaCl. Protein was concentrated and stored at −80° C. Protein concentrations were estimated by gel-densiometry using a bovine serum albumin (BSA) standard on SDS-PAGE and staining with SYPRO Red (Invitrogen, Karlsruhe, Germany). Protein identity was confirmed by LC-MS mass spectrometry.

(174) 8.5 Purification and Proteolytic Cleavage from Construct pMJ385 with ‘Profinity eXact’ Tag

(175) Purification of dpo4 fragment 203-352 V203C from pMJ385 was done as follows: Inclusion bodies were prepared and denatured as described in the ‘i-FOLD Protein refolding system’ manual (Novagen/Merck-Millipore, Darmstadt, Germany). Solubilized protein was subjected to buffer exchange into ‘Buffer W’ (100 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.0, 150 mM NaCl, 1 mM EDTA) using Sephadex G-25 fine material (GE healthcare, Freiburg, Germany) and purified at 4° C. on an ‘ÄKTA Express’ system equipped with StrepTrap HP columns (GE healthcare, Freiburg, Germany). Step elution was done with Buffer W including 2.5 mM Desthiobiotin (IBA GmbH, Göttingen, Germany). Eluted protein solution was supplemented with NaF to a final concentration of 0.1 M and Tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine) (TCEP) to a final concentration of 1 mM and then slowly pumped through a Profinity eXact column. Flowthrough was diluted 1:3 with deionized water and pH adjusted to 7.2 using HCl. The sample was further purified by cation-exchange-chromatography using HiTrap SP HP columns (GE healthcare, Freiburg, Germany) equilibrated in ‘Buffer A’ (50 mM Na-Phosphate, pH 7.2, 1 mM 2-mercaptoethanol). Step elution was done using 17%, 25% and 100% of ‘Buffer B’ (50 mM Na-Phosphate, pH 7.2, 1 M NaCl, 1 mM 2-mercaptoethanol). Fractions were pooled, concentrated and applied to gelfiltration using a HiLoad 16/60 Superdex 75 prep grade column (GE healthcare, Freiburg, Germany) developed in deionized water. Protein was shock frozen in liquid nitrogen and lyophilized. Protein concentrations were estimated by gel-densiometry using a bovine serum albumin (BSA) standard on SDS-PAGE and staining with SYPRO Red (Invitrogen, Karlsruhe, Germany). Protein identity was confirmed by LC-MS mass spectrometry.

(176) 8.6 Synthesis of Synthetic all-L-Polymerase Dpo4 Variant A155C by Native Chemical Ligation of the Fragments 1-154-Thioester and 155-352

(177) The fragments 1-154-thioester and 155-352 of all-L-polymerase Dpo4 variant A155C were solved 50 μM in TRIS-buffer (pH 8.6) containing 2% Triton X100, 1% thiophenol and 5 mM tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine hydrochloride. The reaction mixture was shaken 72 h by room temperature. Afterwards the ligation success was analyzed by SDS-PAGE (FIG. 11A) and LC-ESI-mass spectrometry (RP18-column, gradient of ACN with 0.1% TFA in water with 0.1% TFA 5-95% in 20 min, FIG. 11B). A clear band was found in lane around 41 kDa indicating the full length polymerase. The theoretical molecular weight (M.sub.theor=40223 Da) corresponds the observed molecular weight (M.sub.obs=40265 Da) as shown by ESI-MS.

(178) 8.7 Synthesis of Fragment 155-352 by Native Chemical Ligation of the Fragments 155-202-Thioester and 203-352

(179) The fragments 155-202-thioester and 203-352 V203C of all-L-polymerase Dpo4 were solved 0.2 M in TRIS-buffer (pH 8.6) containing 2% SDS, 1% thiophenol and 5 mM tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine hydrochloride. The reaction mixture was shaken 72 h by room temperature. Analysis of the ligation success was performed by SDS-PAGE (FIG. 20A) and LC-ESI-mass spectrometry (RP18-column, gradient of ACN with 0.1% TFA in water with 0.1% TFA 5-95% in 20 min, FIG. 20B). A clear band was found in lane 7 around 21.5 kDa indicating the ligation product. The theoretical molecular weight (M.sub.theor=22749 Da) corresponds the observed molecular weight (M.sub.obs=22769 Da) as shown by ESI-MS.

Example 9—Recombinant Expression and Purification of Truncated Forms of Polymerase Dpo4, all Consisting of L-Amino Acids

(180) The polymerase Dpo4 was originally discovered in Sulfolobus Solfataricus (abbr. Sso) (Boudsocq, 2001). The wild-type gene has an open reading frame (abbr. ORF) of 1,059 base pairs including start codon and stop codon. The encoded protein has a length of 352 amino acids. This example describes how truncated forms of polymerase Dpo4 have been expressed in E. coli and been purified using Strep-Tag.

(181) 9.1 Expression Constructs

(182) Since the codon usage of Sso differs from E. coli, an E. coli-codon-optimized synthetic gene for wild-type Sso polymerase Dpo4 was purchased from GeneArt AG (Regensburg, Germany). Also, truncated versions with 3, 6 or 9 amino acids deleted from C-terminus were custom made by GeneArt. The synthetic gene sequences were provided in pASK-IBA5plus vector (originator company: IBA GmbH, Göttingen, Germany) which adds a Strep-Tag to the N-terminus. The truncation form of dpo4 with 3 amino acids deleted at the C-terminus was the longest variant expressed from this series of plasmids, named clone 3.C11 (variant Δ3) and had the following sequence of 368 amino acids (sequence shown from N- to C-terminus):

(183) TABLE-US-00017 (SEQ ID NO: 363) MASWSHPQFEKGAETAVPNSIVLFVDFDYFYAQVEEVLNPSLKGKPVVVC VFSGRFEDSGAVATANYEARKFGVKAGIPIVEAKKILPNAVYLPMRKEVY QQVSSRIMNLLREYSEKIEIASIDEAYLDISDKVRDYREAYNLGLEIKNK ILEKEKITVTVGISKNKVFAKIAADMAKPNGIKVIDDEEVKRLIRELDIA DVPGIGNITAEKLKKLGINKLVDTLSIEFDKLKGMIGEAKAKYLISLARD EYNEPIRTRVRKSIGRIVTMKRNSRNLEEIKPYLFRAIEESYYKLDKRIP KAIHVVAVTEDLDIVSRGRTFPHGISKETAYSESVKLLQKILEEDERKIR RIGVRFSKFIEAIGLDKF.

(184) The initial 20 amino acids represented the Strep-Tag II including a few spacer amino acids, the following sequence then represents Sulfolobus solfataricus Dpo4 amino acids 2-349. Other truncation forms described in this example have the same sequence at the N-terminus, but less amino acids at the C-terminus. For example, clone 9.C3 (variant Δ6) had 6 amino acids deleted and clone 2.F12 (variant Δ9) had 9 amino acids deleted from the C-terminus. Expression constructs for further truncations forms of Dpo4 were made using the commercially available QuikChange kit (Stratagene GmbH, Waldbronn, Germany) according to manufacturer's protocol. Clone 2.F12 (dpo4 with 9 amino acids C-terminally deleted in pASK-IBA5plus) served as template to make pCK58 and pCK59. Oligonucleotides needed for QuikChange were at NOXXON.

(185) The following expression constructs were made and used for expression of the truncated forms of polymerase Dpo4 in E. coli

(186) TABLE-US-00018 variant construct comment Δ3 clone from GeneArt 3.C11 Δ6 clone from GeneArt 9.C3 Δ9 clone from GeneArt 2.F12 Δ12 pCK58 made using the following QuikChange  oligonucleotides QC_35_up (5′TATTGGTGTGCGCTTTAGCAAATTTTAATAAGGTACCCGGG 3′) (SEQ ID NO: 364) QC_35_low (5′CCCGGGTACCTTATTAAAATTTGCTAAAGCGCACACCAATA 3′) (SEQ ID NO: 365) Δ15 pCK59 QC_36_up (5′GTATTGGTGTGCGCTTTTAATAAGGTACCCGGGG 3′) (SEQ ID NO: 366) QC_36__low (5′CCCCGGGTACCTTATTAAAAGCGCACACCAATAC 3′) (SEQ ID NO: 367)

(187) 9.2 Protein Expression in E. coli

(188) Truncated forms Δ3, Δ6, Δ9, Δ12 or Δ15 of Dpo4 were expressed in E. coli using expression construct based on pASK-IB5plus. For expression, the appropriate expression construct was transformed in E. coli strain ‘NEB express’ (New England Biolabs, Frankfurt am Main, Germany) using ‘Transformation and Storage Solution’ (Epicentre/Biozym, Hessisch Oldendorf, Germany) and maintained with the antibiotic Ampicillin. Expression was done in medium ‘EnBase Flo’ or ‘EnPresso’ (BioSilta, Oulu, Finland) for 48 h at 30° C. using 200 ng/ml Anhydrotetracyclin (IBA GmbH, Göttingen, Germany) as inducer. Cells were harvested by centrifugation and either stored at −80° C. or immediately processed.

(189) 9.3 Protein Purification

(190) Fresh or frozen E. coli cells were resuspended on ice in ‘Buffer W’ (100 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.0, 150 mM NaCl, 1 mM EDTA) and lysed using a ‘French Press’ (G. Heinemann, Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany) cell disrupter. Purification was done at 4° C. on an ‘ÄKTA Express’ system equipped with 5 ml StrepTrap HP columns (GE healthcare, Freiburg, Germany). Step elution was done with Buffer W including 2.5 mM Desthiobiotin (IBA GmbH, Göttingen, Germany). Fractions were pooled and buffer-exchanged in 50 mM Na-phosphate, pH 7.2 using a HiPrep_26/10 column (GE healthcare, Freiburg, Germany). Then proteins samples were applied to 5 ml cation exchange columns HiTrap_SP_HP (GE healthcare, Freiburg, Germany) and eluted with a gradient up to 1 M NaCl in 50 mM Na-phosphate pH 7.2. Eluted peak fractions were collected, pooled and buffer exchanged in 20 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.4, 200 mM KCl, 0.2 mM EDTA. All important fractions were analyzed using SDS-PAGE (Invitrogen, Karlsruhe, Germany. Protein identity was confirmed by LC-MS mass spectometry. The final samples were concentrated using VivaSpin 15R concentration devices with 10,000 molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) (VivaSciences/Sartorius Stedim Biotech, Göttingen, Germany) and supplemented with one volume glycerol and DTT, so that the storage buffer consisted of 10 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.4, 100 mM KCl, 0.1 mM EDTA, 1 mM DTT, 50% glycerol. Purified protein was stored at −20° C. Protein concentrations were estimated by gel-densiometry using a bovine serum albumin (abbr. BSA) standard on SDS-PAGE and staining with SYPRO Red (Invitrogen, Karlsruhe, Germany).

Example 10—Activity Confirmation of Polymerase Dpo4 and Variants of Polymerase Dpo4 Consisting of L-Amino Acids

(191) This example describes a PCR activity test for all-L-polymerase Dpo4 and variants of all-L-polymerase Dpo4 according to example 7, for the synthetic all-L-polymerase Dpo4 according to example 8 and for truncated forms of Dpo4 according to example 9.

(192) 10.1 Templates for PCR Activity Assay

(193) Template for the PCR reaction is a 83-mer single-stranded D-DNA oligonucleotide (MJ_1_1_DD) from which, in the first thermal cycle, the opposite strand is made. Thereafter both strands serve as template for exponential amplification. Template DNA oligonucleotide and DNA primers are synthesized at NOXXON in D-configuration.

(194) List of Oligonucleotides for the PCR Activity Assay:

(195) TABLE-US-00019 Length, Name nt Sequence (5′.fwdarw.3′) MJ_1_1_DD 83 GTGGAACCGACAACTTGTGCTGCGTCCAGCA TAAGAAAGGAGCTCCCTCAGAAGAAGCTGCG CAGCGTGCCAGTCTGAGCTCC (SEQ ID NO: 48) DE4.40T7 38 TCTAATACGACTCACTATAGGAGCTCAGACT GGCACGC(SEQ ID NO: 79) DE4.40R 20 GTGGAACCGACAACTTGTGC (SEQ ID NO: 80)

(196) 10.2 PCR Reactions

(197) 15 μl PCR reactions contained 0.2 mM each of the four D-dNTP's, 10 nM 83-mer ssDNA (MJ_1_1_DD) template, 1 μM of forward and reverse primer, 1× ThermoPol buffer (Invitrogen, 20 mM Tris-HCl, 10 mM KCl, 10 mM (NH.sub.4).sub.2SO.sub.4, 2 mM MgSO.sub.4, 0.1% Triton X-100, pH 8.8@25° C.) and at least 0.67 ng/μl all-L-polymerase Dpo4 or a variant of all-L-polymerase Dpo4 or the synthetic all-L-polymerase Dpo4. The forward primer is DE4.40T7, the reverse primer is DE4.40R, yielding a PCR product of 102 base pairs length. The D-dNTP's were purchased from Rovalab (Teltow, Germany). Negative controls were conducted by omitting all-L-polymerase Dpo4 or a variant of all-L-polymerase Dpo4 or the synthetic all-L-polymerase Dpo4. Positive controls were conducted using commercially available all-L-dpo4 (New England Biolabs, Frankfurt am Main, Germany).

(198) The thermal cycling program consisted of 1 cycle (85° C., 3 min) then at least 7 cycles (85° C., 30 sec/56° C., 1 min/60° C., 4 min) then hold at 4° C. 4 μl aliquots of the PCR reactions were mixed with sample loading buffer and analyzed on TBE-PAGE or on agarose gels (LONZA, Cologne, Germany). A DNA standard ladder containing, among others, a 100 bp band was applied on the gel.

(199) 10.3 Activity Confirmation

(200) All-L-polymerase Dpo4, the variants A155C, V203C, C31S, A155C/V203C, S85C, S86C, S96C, A71C/A155C/V203C, S86C/A155C/V203C, C31S/S86C/A155C/V203C, M76G/A155C/V203C, M76A/A155C/V203C, 167C/A155C/V203C, S86G/A155C/V203C and S96C/A155C/V203C of all-L-polymerase Dpo4, and the C-terminally truncated forms Δ3, Δ6, Δ9, Δ12 and Δ15 of Dpo4, and the synthetic all-L-polymerase Dpo4 were tested. All tested polymerases were able to amplify the template strand in the PCR reaction. FIG. 12A shows the analysis of PCR reactions performed with the variants A155C, V203C, C31S, A155C/V203C of all-L-polymerase Dpo4, which showed a band in the range of about 100 bp as compared with the DNA standard ladder. Expected PCR product size was 102 base pairs. Said band does not appear in the negative controls, where polymerase is omitted. Also said 102 bp band migrates higher than the 83-mer template. FIG. 12B shows the analysis of PCR reactions performed with the recombinant all-L-polymerase dpo4 and with the synthetic all-L-polymerase dpo4 which was made by ligation of fragments. The gel showed bands in the range of about 100 bp as compared with the DNA standard ladder. Expected PCR product size was 102 base pairs. Said band is very weak in the negative controls, where polymerase is omitted. Recombinant all-L-polymerase dpo4 and synthetic all-L-polymerase dpo4 show comparable activity. FIG. 12C shows the analysis of PCR reactions performed with the recombinant all-L-polymerase dpo4 and with the variants A71C/A155C/V203C, S86C/A155C/V203C and C31S/S86C/A155C/V203C. The gel showed bands in the range of about 100 bp as compared with the DNA standard ladder. Expected PCR product size was 102 base pairs. FIG. 12D shows the analysis of PCR reactions performed with the recombinant all-L-polymerase dpo4 and with the variants M76G/A155C/V203C and M76A/A155C/V203C. The gel showed bands in the range of about 100 bp as compared with the DNA standard ladder. Expected PCR product size was 102 base pairs. FIG. 12E shows the analysis of PCR reactions performed with the variants 167C/A155C/V203C, S86G/A155C/V203C and S96C/A155C/V203C. The gel showed bands in the range of about 100 bp as compared with the DNA standard ladder. Expected PCR product size was 102 base pairs. FIG. 12F shows the analysis of PCR reactions performed with the C-terminally truncated forms Δ3, Δ6, Δ9, Δ12 and Δ15 of Dpo4. The gel showed bands in the range of about 100 bp as compared with the DNA standard ladder. Expected PCR product size was 102 base pairs.

Example 11—Synthesis of a Variant of Polymerase Dpo4 Consisting of D-Amino Acids

(201) Within the example the synthesis of the all-D polymerase Dpo variant A155C/V203C is described. The amino acid sequence of the all-D polymerase Dpo variant A155C/V203C is

(202) TABLE-US-00020 (SEQ ID NO: 18) Ac-MIVLFVDFDYFYAQVEEVLNPSLKGKPVVVCVFSGRFEDSGAVATAN YEARKFGVKAGIPIVEAKKILPNAVYLPMRKEVYQQVSSRIMNLLREYSE KIEIASIDEAYLDISDKVRDYREAYNLGLEIKNKILEKEKITVTVGISKN KVFAKIACDMAKPNGIKVIDDEEVKRLIRELDIADVPGIGNITAEKLKKL GINKLCDTLSIEFDKLKGMIGEAKAKYLISLARDEYNEPIRTRVRKSIGR IVTMKRNSRNLEEIKPYLFRAIEESYYKLDKRIPKAIHVVAVTEDLDIVS RGRTFPHGISKETAYSESVKLLQKILEEDERKIRRIGVRFSKFIEAIGLD KFFDT-OH.

(203) All amino acids used are protected according to the Solid-phase peptide synthesis Fmoc/tBu-strategy requirements (Eric Atherton et al, 1981). All amino acids used are D-amino acids (Bachem, Bubendorf, Switzerland).

(204) 11.1 Synthesis of H-D-Met-OGp(Boc).sub.2

(205) 1 mmol Z-D-Met-OH, 0.9 eq. TBTU and 0.9 mmol HO-Gp(Boc).sub.2 were dissolved in 10 ml DMF. After addition of 2 eq. DIPEA the solution was stirred for 2 hours. After evaporating the solvent the raw product was purified with flash chromatography using DCM. Pure fractions of Z-D-Met-OGp(Boc).sub.2 were combined and the solvent was evaporated.

(206) Z-D-Met-OGp(Boc).sub.2 was dissolved in 10 ml MeOH and flushed with argon. Hydrolytic cleavage of the N-terminal Z-group was achieved by the addition of Pd/C catalyst and H.sub.2 in 2 hours. After filtrating off H-D-Met-OGp(Boc).sub.2 MeOH was evaporated under reduced pressure. Analytics was performed using reversed phase HPLC and mass spectrometry. The calculated mass of 482 Da is in accordance to the determined mass of 483 Da.

(207) 11.2 Synthesis of Fully Protected All-D-Peptide H-

(208) TABLE-US-00021 (1) (SEQ ID NO: 81) RTFPHGISKETAYSESVKLLQKILEEDERIURRIGVRFSKFIEAIGLDKF FDT-NH.sub.2

(209) 0.1 mmol Fmoc-Sieber rink amide NovaSynTG resin was loaded after Fmoc-deprotection with Fmoc-D-Thr(tBu)-OH using 5 eq. amino acid, eq. 4.9 eq. HATU and 10 eq. DIPEA for 45 min in 6 ml NMP.

(210) Automated synthesis was done using an ABI 433 with the FASTmoc protocol. 10 eq. amino acid were activated using 9 eq. HATU and 20 eq. DIPEA in NMP. Coupling time was 45 min and Fmoc-deprotection was performed three times for 7 min with 20% (v/v) piperidine in NMP. Double coupling was performed after coupling of 42 amino acids.

(211) The cleavage of the fully protected peptide acid was achieved by incubating the peptidyl resin twice in 10 ml 1% (v/v) TFA in DCM for 2 hours. After filtering off the peptide the solvent was evaporated and the residue precipitated using ice cold diethyl ether. The precipitated peptide was isolated and dried.

(212) The final product was characterised by HPLC and mass spectrometry (FIG. 13). The calculated mass for the product (6244 Da) corresponds to the measured mass (6249 Da).

(213) 11.3 Synthesis of Fully Protected All-D-Peptide Boc-

(214) TABLE-US-00022 (2) (SEQ ID NO: 82) VDTLSIEFDKLKGMIGEAKAKYLISLARDEYNEPIRTRVRKSIGRIVTMK RNSRNLEEIKPYLFRAIEESYYKLDKRIPKAIHVVAVTEDLDIVSRG-OH 

(215) 0.10 mmol TentaGel-R-Trityl resin was loaded with Fmoc-D-Gly-OH as described in Barlos et al. (Barlos et al., 1989). Therefore 0.10 mmol resin was incubated twice for 30 min with 0.6 mmol thionylchloride and subsequently washed with DCM. Following this the resin was incubated 90 min with 0.6 mmol Fmoc-Gly-OH, 2.4 mmol DIPEA in 6 ml DCM. Afterwards the resin was blocked three times for 10 min using a solution of 10% MeOH (v/v), 10% DIPEA (v/v) in DCM and washed with DCM. Automated synthesis was done using an ABI 433 with the FASTmoc protocol. 10 eq. amino acid were activated using 9 eq. HATU and 20 eq. DIPEA in NMP. Coupling time was 45 min and Fmoc-deprotection was performed three times for 7 min with 20% (v/v) piperidine in NMP. Double coupling was performed after coupling of 39 amino acids.

(216) The cleavage of the fully protected peptide acid was achieved by incubating the peptidyl resin twice in 10 ml 30% (v/v) HFIP in DCM for 2 hours. After filtering off the peptide the solvent was evaporated and the residue precipitated using ice cold diethyl ether. The precipitated peptide was isolated and dried. The final product was characterised by HPLC and mass spectrometry (FIG. 14). The experimentally determined mass of the product (11289 Da) was in accordance to the theoretical value (11286 Da).

(217) 11.4 Synthesis of All-D-Peptide

(218) TABLE-US-00023 (3) (SEQ ID NO: 83) H-VDTLSIEFDKLKGMIGEAKAKYLISLARDEYNEPIRTRVRKSIGRIVT MKRNSRNLEEIKPYLFRAIEESYYKLDKRIPKAIHVVAVTEDLDIVSRGR TFPHGISKETAYSESVKLLQKILEEDERKIRRIGVRFSKFIEAIGLDKFF DT-NH.sub.2 
By Fragment Condensation of Peptide 1 with Peptide 2.

(219) 5 μmole (2) and 1 eq. (1) were dissolved in 25% (v/v) TFE in DCM. After addition of 5 eq. PyBOP and 10 eq. DIPEA the mixture was stirred overnight. After evaporating the solvent the peptide was precipitated using ice cold diethyl ether and filtered off.

(220) The cleavage of the side chain protection groups of the peptide was performed with 2.5% EDT, 2.5% water, 2.5% TIS in TFA for 2 hours. Following the evaporation of TFA the peptide was precipitated with ice cold diethyl ether. Reversed phase HPLC purification of the N-terminal Fmoc-protected peptide was performed on a C18 column using an ACN/water gradient. Fractions that contain product were combined and freeze dried.

(221) The final product was characterised by HPLC and mass spectrometry (FIG. 15). The experimentally determined mass (17531 Da) corresponds to the theoretical molecular mass (17512 Da).

(222) 11.5 Synthesis of All-D-Peptide

(223) TABLE-US-00024 (4) (SEQ ID NO: 84) Z-CDMAKPNGIKVIDDEEVKRLIRELDIADVPGIGNITAEKLKKLGINKL- benzyl-thioester 

(224) 0.10 mmol TentaGel-R-Trityl resin was loaded with Fmoc-D-Leu-OH as described in Barlos et al. (Barlos et al., 1989). Therefore 0.10 mmol resin was incubated twice for 30 min with 0.6 mmol thionylchloride and subsequently washed with DCM. Following this the resin was incubated 90 min with 0.6 mmol Fmoc-D-Leu-OH, 2.4 mmol DIPEA in 6 ml DCM. Afterwards the resin was blocked three times for 10 min using a solution of 10% MeOH (v/v), 10% DIPEA (v/v) in DCM and washed with DCM. Automated synthesis was done using an ABI 433 with the FASTmoc protocol. 10 eq. amino acid were activated using 9 eq. HATU and 20 eq. DIPEA in NMP. Coupling time was 45 min and Fmoc-deprotection was performed three times for 7 min with 20% (v/v) piperidine in NMP.

(225) The cleavage of the fully protected peptide acid was achieved by incubating the peptidyl resin twice in 10 ml 30% (v/v) HFIP in DCM for 2 hours. After filtering off the peptide the solvent was evaporated and the residue precipitated using ice cold diethyl ether. The precipitated peptide was isolated and dried.

(226) The N-terminal Z- and completely side chain protected peptide 4 was solved 1 mM in DMF. After addition of 5 eq. PyBOP, 10 eq. DIPEA and 30 eq. benzyl mercaptan the mixture was stirred for 4 h. Then the DMF was evaporated, the peptide was precipitated and washed with ice-cold diethyl ether. The side chain protecting groups were removed by treatment with 2.5% EDT, 2.5% water, 2.5% TIS in TFA for 2 hours. After the evaporation of TFA the peptide was precipitated and washed with ice cold diethyl ether. The peptide-benzyl-thioester was then purified by reversed-phase HPLC and analyzed by reversed-phase HPLC (FIG. 16A) and ESI-MS (FIG. 16B). The theoretical molecular weight (M.sub.theor=5527 Da) corresponds the observed molecular weight (M.sub.obs=5533 Da) as shown by ESI-MS.

(227) 11.6 Synthesis of all-D-peptide

(228) TABLE-US-00025 (7) (SEQ ID NO: 85) H-RKEVYQQVSSRIMNLLREYSEKIEIASIDEAYLDISDKVRDYREAYNL GLEIKNKILEKEKITVTVGISKNKVFAKIA-SMe 

(229) 0.10 mmol TentaGel-R-NH.sub.2 resin was loaded with Fmoc-D-Ala-OH using 5 eq. amino acid, eq. 4.9 eq. HATU and 10 eq. DIPEA for 45 min in 6 ml NMP. Subsequently the resin was washed with THF. Conversion to Fmoc-D-Ala-Ψ[CS-NH]-R-TentaGel was achieved by incubation with 4 eq. Lawesson reagent in THF at 80° C. for 2 hours. Following this the resin was washed with NMP. Subsequently the so prepared resin was used in automated peptide synthesis as described previously (ABI 433, FASTmoc protocol, 10 eq. amino acid were activated using 9 eq. HATU and 20 eq. DIPEA in NMP; coupling time was 45 min and Fmoc-deprotection was performed three times for 7 min with 20% (v/v) piperidine in NMP). Double coupling steps were performed after 44 coupled amino acids.

(230) Following this the corresponding thioester was generated by incubation with methyl iodide in DMF overnight according to Sharma et al. (Sharma et al, 2011). After filtering of the resin the peptide thioester containing solvent was evaporated and the residue precipitated using ice cold diethyl ether. The cleavage of side chain protection groups was performed with 2.5% EDT, 2.5% water, 2.5% TIS in TFA for 2 hours. Following the evaporation of TFA the peptide was precipitated with ice cold diethyl ether. Reversed phase HPLC purification of the peptide thioester was performed on a C18 column using an ACN/water gradient. Fractions that contain product were combined and freeze dried.

(231) The final product was characterised by HPLC (FIG. 17A) and mass spectrometry (FIG. 17B). The molecular mass of the product determined by mass spectrometry (9155 Da) was in accordance to the calculated mass (9150 Da).

(232) 11.7 Synthesis of

(233) TABLE-US-00026 (6) (SEQ ID NO: 86) Ac-MIVLFVDFDYFYAQVEEVLNPSLKGKPVVVCVFSGRFEDSGAVATAN YEARKFGVKAGIPIVEAKKILPNAVYLPM-OGp 

(234) 0.10 mmol TentaGel-R-Trityl resin was loaded with Fmoc-D-Pro-OH as described in Barlos et al. (Barlos et al., 1989). Therefore 0.10 mmol resin was incubated twice for 30 min with 0.6 mmol thionylchloride and subsequently washed with DCM. Following this the resin was incubated 90 min with 0.6 mmol Fmoc-D-Pro-OH, 2.4 mmol DIPEA in 6 ml DCM. Afterwards the resin was blocked three times for 10 min using a solution of 10% MeOH (v/v), 10% DIPEA (v/v) in DCM and washed with DCM. Automated synthesis was done using an ABI 433 with the FASTmoc protocol. 10 eq. amino acid were activated using 9 eq. HATU and 20 eq. DIPEA in NMP. Coupling time was 45 min and Fmoc-deprotection was performed three times for 7 min with 20% (v/v) piperidine in NMP. Double coupling was performed after coupling of 46 amino acids. Acetylation of the N-terminus was performed with 10% (v/v) acetic anhydride and 10% (v/v) DIPEA in DMF three times for 10 min.

(235) The cleavage of the fully protected peptide acid was achieved by incubating the peptidyl resin twice in 10 ml 30% (v/v) HFIP in DCM for 2 hours. After filtering off the peptide the solvent was evaporated and the residue precipitated using ice cold diethyl ether. The precipitated peptide was isolated and dried.

(236) 0.01 mmol fully protected peptide, 4 eq. PyBOP and 5 eq. H-D-Met-OGp(Boc).sub.2 were dissolved in 6 ml NMP. After addition of 10 eq. DIPEA the mixture was stirred for 4 hours. Following this the solvent was reduced evaporated and the residue precipitated by ice cold diethyl ether. The precipitated peptide ester was dried and subsequently protection groups were cleaved off using 2.5% EDT, 2.5% water, 2.5% TIS in TFA for 2 hours. Following the evaporation of TFA the peptide was precipitated with ice cold diethyl ether. Reversed phase HPLC purification of the peptide ester was performed on a C18 column using an ACN/water gradient. Fractions that contain product were combined and freeze dried.

(237) The final product was characterised by HPLC (FIG. 18A) and mass spectrometry (FIG. 18B). The experimentally determined mass (8547 Da) corresponded to the theoretical molecular mass (8541 Da).

(238) 11.8 Synthesis of All-D-Peptide

(239) TABLE-US-00027 (5) (SEQ ID NO: 87) H-CDMAKPNGIKVIDDEEVKRLIRELDIADVPGIGNITAEKLKKLGINKL CDTLSIEFDKLKGMIGEAKAKYLISLARDEYNEPIRTRVRKSIGRIVTMK RNSRNLEEIKPYLFRAIEESYYKLDKRIPKAIHVVAVTEDLDIVSRGRTF PHGISKETAYSESVKLLQKILEEDERKIRRIGVRFSKFIEAIGLDKFFD T-OH 
By Native Chemical Ligation of Peptide 4 with Peptide 3

(240) Both peptides 3 and 4 are solved 0.2 M in TRIS-buffer (pH 8.6) containing 2% SDS, 1% thiophenol and 5 mM tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine hydrochloride. The reaction mixture shaked 72 h by room temperature. Afterwards the mixture is purified is by reversed-phase HPLC. For removal of the N-terminal Z-protecting group the peptide was solved in 270 eq. TFA and 50 eq. thioanisol and shakes for 6 h at room temperature (Yoshiaki Kiso et al, 1980). After evaporation of TFA the peptide was precipitated and washed by ice-cold diethyl ether and purified again by reversed-phase HPLC (Phenomenex, Aschaffenburg, Germany). Analysis of the free peptide 5 is performed by SDS-PAGE, reversed phase UPLC and ESI-mass spectrometry. The correct mass of the product is found.

(241) 11.9 Synthesis of All-D-Peptide

(242) TABLE-US-00028 (8) (SEQ ID NO: 88) Ac-MIVLFVDFDYFYAQVEEVLNPSLKGKPVVVCVFSGRFEDSGAVATAN YEARKFGVKAGIPIVEAKKILPNAVYLPMRKEVYQQVSSRIMNLLREYSE KIEIASIDEAYLDISDKVRDYREAYNLGLEIKNKILEKEKITVTVGISKN KVFAKIA-SMe 
By Protease-Catalyzed Ligation of Peptide 6 with Peptide 7

(243) Peptide 6 was solved 0.2 mM and peptide 7 was solved 0.6 mM in sodium-phosphate buffer (100 mM, pH 8.5, with 100 mM NaCl) containing 4 M Urea. After addition of 20 μM Clostripain (Endoprotease Arg-C, Worthington Biochemical Corporation, Lakewood, N.J., USA) the reaction mixture was shaken overnight at 37° C. The precipitated peptides were centrifuged, solved in H.sub.2O/Formic Acid 80/20 and will be purified by reversed phase HPLC using a RP-18-column (Phenomenex, Aschaffenburg, Germany) with a gradient of ACN in water of 5% to 95% within 30 min. The final peptide was analyzed by SDS-PAGE (FIG. 19A) and ESI-mass spectrometry (FIG. 19B). A band was found in lane 1 between 14.4 kDa and 21.5 kDa indicating the ligation product. The theoretical molecular weight of the ligation product (M.sub.theor=17476 Da) corresponds the observed molecular weight (M.sub.obs=17486 Da) as shown by ESI-MS.

(244) 11.10 Synthesis of the All-D Polymerase Dpo Variant A115C/V203C by Native Chemical Ligation of Peptide 8 with Peptide 5

(245) Both peptides 5 and 8 are solved 0.2 M in TRIS-buffer (pH 8.6) containing 2% Triton X100, 1% thiophenol and 5 mM tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine hydrochloride. The reaction mixture shakes 72 h by room temperature. Afterwards the mixture is purified by reversed-phase HPLC and analyzed by SDS-PAGE, reversed phase UPLC and ESI-mass spectrometry. The correct mass of the ligation product is found.

Example 12—Synthesis of a Polymerase Dpo4 Variant A71C/A155C/V203C Consisting of D-Amino Acids

(246) Within the example the synthesis of the all-D polymerase Dpo variant A71C/A155C/V203C is described. The amino acid sequence of the all-D polymerase Dpo variant A71C/A155C/V203C is

(247) TABLE-US-00029 (SEQ ID NO: 94) Ac-MIVLFVDFDYFYAQVEEVLNPSLKGKPVVVCVFSGRFEDSGAVATAN YEARKFGVKAGIPIVEAKKILPNCVYLPMRKEVYQQVSSRIMNLLREYSE KIEIASIDEAYLDISDKVRDYREAYNLGLEIKNKILEKEKITVTVGISKN KVFAKIACDMAKPNGIKVIDDEEVKRLIRELDIADVPGIGNITAEKLKKL GINKLCDTLSIEFDKLKGMIGEAKAKYLISLARDEYNEPIRTRVRKSIGR IVTMKRNSRNLEEIKPYLFRAIEESYYKLDKRIPKAIHVVAVTEDLDIVS RGRTFPHGISKETAYSESVKLLQKILEEDERKIRRIGVRFSKFIEAIGLD KFFDT-NH.sub.2.

(248) All amino acids used are protected according to the Solid-phase peptide synthesis Fmoc/tBu-strategy requirements (Eric Atherton et al, 1981). All amino acids used are D-amino acids (Bachem, Bubendorf, Switzerland).

(249) 12.1 Synthesis of Fully Protected All-D-Peptide H-

(250) TABLE-US-00030 (1) (SEQ ID NO: 81) RTFPHGISKETAYSESVKLLQKILEEDERKIRRIGVRFSKFIEAIGLDKF FDT-NH2

(251) 0.1 mmol Fmoc-Sieber rink amide NovaSynTG resin was loaded after Fmoc-deprotection with Fmoc-D-Thr(tBu)-OH using 5 eq. amino acid, eq. 4.9 eq. HATU and 10 eq. DIPEA for 45 min in 6 ml NMP.

(252) Automated synthesis was done using an ABI 433 synthesizer with the FASTmoc protocol. 10 eq. amino acid were activated using 9 eq. HATU and 20 eq. DIPEA in NMP. Coupling time was 45 min and Fmoc-deprotection was performed three times for 7 min with 20% (v/v) piperidine in NMP. Double coupling was performed after coupling of 42 amino acids.

(253) The cleavage of the fully protected peptide acid was achieved by incubating the peptidyl resin twice in 10 ml 1% (v/v) TFA in DCM for 2 hours. After filtering off the resin the solvent was evaporated and the peptide was precipitated using ice cold diethyl ether. Finally the peptide was isolated and dried.

(254) The final product was characterised by HPLC and mass spectrometry (FIG. 13). The calculated mass for the product (6244 Da) corresponds to the measured mass (6249 Da).

(255) 12.2 Synthesis of Fully Protected All-D-Peptide

(256) TABLE-US-00031 (3) (SEQ ID NO: 368) Boc-CDTLSIEF DKLKGMIGEA KAKYLISLAR DEYNEPIRTR VRKSIGRIVT MKRNSRNLEE  IKPYLFRAIE ESYYKLDKRI PKAIHVVAVT EDLDIVSRG-OH

(257) 0.10 mmol TentaGel-R-Trityl resin was loaded with Fmoc-D-Gly-OH as described in Barlos et al. (Barlos et al., 1989). Therefore 0.10 mmol resin was incubated twice for 30 min with 0.6 mmol thionylchloride and subsequently washed with DCM. Following this the resin was incubated 90 min with 0.6 mmol Fmoc-Gly-OH, 2.4 mmol DIPEA in 6 ml DCM. Afterwards the resin was blocked three times for 10 min using a solution of 10% MeOH (v/v), 10% DIPEA (v/v) in DCM and washed with DCM. Automated synthesis was done using an ABI 433 with the FASTmoc protocol. 10 eq. amino acid were activated using 9 eq. HATU and 20 eq. DIPEA in NMP. Coupling time was 45 min and Fmoc-deprotection was performed three times for 7 min with 20% (v/v) piperidine in NMP. Double coupling steps were performed after coupling of 39 amino acids.

(258) The identity of the synthesized peptide was characterised after TFA cleavage of a small amount of peptidyl resin by HPLC and mass spectrometry (FIG. 14). The experimentally determined mass of the product (11289 Da) was in accordance to the theoretical value (11286 Da).

(259) The cleavage of the fully protected peptide acid was achieved by incubating the peptidyl resin twice in 10 ml 1% (v/v) TFA in DCM for 2 hours. After filtering off the resin the solvent was evaporated and the peptide was precipitated using ice cold diethyl ether. Finally the peptide was isolated and dried.

(260) 12.3 Synthesis of All-D-Peptide

(261) TABLE-US-00032 (5) (SEQ ID NO: 369) H-CDTLSIEFDKLKGMIGEAKAKYLISLARDEYNEPIRTRVRKSIGRIVT MKRNSRNLEEIKPYLFRAIEESYYKLDKRIPKAIHVVAVTEDLDIVSRGR TFPHGISKETAYSESVKLLQKILEEDERKIRRIGVRFSKFIEAIGLDKFF DT-NH.sub.2
By Fragment Condensation of Peptide 1 with Peptide 3.

(262) 5 μmole (3) and 1 eq. (1) were dissolved in 25% (v/v) TFE in DCM. After addition of 5 eq. PyBOP and 10 eq. DIPEA the mixture was stirred overnight. After evaporating the solvent the peptide was precipitated using ice cold diethyl ether and filtered off.

(263) The cleavage of the side chain protection groups of the peptide was performed with 2.5% EDT, 2.5% water, 2.5% TIS in TFA for 2 hours. Following the evaporation of TFA the peptide was precipitated with ice cold diethyl ether. Reversed phase HPLC purification of the N-terminal Fmoc-protected peptide was performed on a C18 column using an ACN/water gradient. Fractions that contain product were combined and freeze dried.

(264) The final product was characterised by HPLC and mass spectrometry (FIG. 15). The experimentally determined mass (17531 Da) corresponds to the theoretical molecular mass (17512 Da).

(265) 12.4 Synthesis of All-D-Peptide

(266) TABLE-US-00033 (9) (SEQ ID NO: 344) H-CVYLPMRKEVYQQVSSRIMNLLREYSEKIEIASIDEAYLDISDKVRDY REAYNLGLEIKNKILEKEKITVTVGISKNKVFAKIA-SBz1 

(267) 0.10 mmol TentaGel-R-Trityl resin was loaded with Fmoc-D-Ala-OH as described in Barlos et al. (Barlos et al., 1989). Therefore 0.10 mmol resin was incubated twice for 30 min with 0.6 mmol thionylchloride and subsequently washed with DCM. Following this the resin was incubated 90 min with 0.6 mmol Fmoc-D-Ala-OH, 2.4 mmol DIPEA in 6 ml DCM. Afterwards the resin was blocked three times for 10 min using a solution of 10% MeOH (v/v), 10% DIPEA (v/v) in DCM and washed with DCM. Automated synthesis was done using an ABI 433 with the FASTmoc protocol. 10 eq. amino acid were activated using 9 eq. HATU and 20 eq. DIPEA in NMP. Coupling time was 45 min and Fmoc-deprotection was performed three times for 7 min with 20% (v/v) piperidine in NMP. Double coupling was performed after coupling of 44 amino acids. Acetylation of the N-terminus was performed with 10% (v/v) acetic anhydride and 10% (v/v) DIPEA in DMF three times for 10 min.

(268) The cleavage of the fully protected peptide acid was achieved by incubating the peptidyl resin twice in 10 ml 30% (v/v) HFIP in DCM for 2 hours. After filtering off the resin the solvent was evaporated and the residue precipitated using ice cold diethyl ether. The precipitated peptide was isolated and dried.

(269) 0.005 mmol fully protected peptide, 5 eq. PyBOP and 100 eq. benzylmercaptan were dissolved in 6 ml DCM. After addition of 10 eq. DIPEA the mixture was stirred for 4 hours. Following this the solvent was reduced evaporated and the residue precipitated by ice cold diethyl ether. The precipitated peptide ester was dried and subsequently protection groups were cleaved off using 2.5% EDT, 2.5% water, 2.5% TIS in TFA for 2 hours. Following the evaporation of TFA the peptide was precipitated with ice cold diethyl ether. Reversed phase HPLC purification of the peptide ester was performed on a C18 column using an ACN/water gradient. Fractions that contain exclusively product were combined and freeze dried.

(270) The final product was characterised by UPLC (FIG. 21) and mass spectrometry (FIG. 22). The molecular mass of the product determined by mass spectrometry (9926 Da) was in accordance to the calculated mass (9923 Da).

(271) 12.5 Synthesis of

(272) TABLE-US-00034 (11) (SEQ ID NO: 345) Ac-MIVLFVDFDYFYAQVEEVLNPSLKGKPVVVCVFSGRFEDSGAVATAN YEARKFGVKAGIPIVEAKKILPN-SBzl 

(273) 0.10 mmol TentaGel-R-Trityl resin was loaded with Fmoc-D-Asn(Trt)-OH as described in Barlos et al. (Barlos et al., 1989). Therefore 0.10 mmol resin was incubated twice for 30 min with 0.6 mmol thionylchloride and subsequently washed with DCM. Following this the resin was incubated 90 min with 0.6 mmol Fmoc-D-Asn(Trt)-OH, 2.4 mmol DIPEA in 6 ml DCM. Afterwards the resin was blocked three times for 10 min using a solution of 10% MeOH (v/v), 10% DIPEA (v/v) in DCM and washed with DCM. Automated synthesis was done using an ABI 433 with the FASTmoc protocol. 10 eq. amino acid were activated using 9 eq. HATU and 20 eq. DIPEA in NMP. Coupling time was 45 min and Fmoc-deprotection was performed three times for 7 min with 20% (v/v) piperidine in NMP. Double coupling was performed after coupling of 40 amino acids. Acetylation of the N-terminus was performed with 10% (v/v) acetic anhydride and 10% (v/v) DIPEA in DMF three times for 10 min.

(274) The cleavage of the fully protected peptide acid was achieved by incubating the peptidyl resin twice in 10 ml 30% (v/v) HFIP in DCM for 2 hours. After filtering off the peptide the solvent was evaporated and the residue precipitated using ice cold diethyl ether. The precipitated peptide was isolated and dried.

(275) 0.005 mmol fully protected peptide, 5 eq. PyBOP and 100 eq. benzylmercaptane were dissolved in 6 ml DCM. After addition of 10 eq. DIPEA the mixture was stirred for 4 hours. Following this the solvent was reduced evaporated and the residue precipitated by ice cold diethyl ether. The precipitated peptide ester was dried and subsequently protection groups were cleaved off using 2.5% EDT, 2.5% water, 2.5% TIS in TFA for 2 hours. Following the evaporation of TFA the peptide was precipitated with ice cold diethyl ether. Reversed phase HPLC purification of the peptide ester was performed on a C18 column using an ACN/water gradient. Fractions that contain exclusively product were combined and freeze dried.

(276) The final product was characterised by UPLC (FIG. 23) and mass spectrometry (FIG. 24). The molecular mass of the product determined by mass spectrometry (7848 Da) was in accordance to the calculated mass (7845 Da).

(277) 12.6 Synthesis of All-D-Peptide

(278) TABLE-US-00035 (7) (SEQ ID NO: 84) Z-CDMAKPNGIKVIDDEEVKRLIRELDIADVPGIGNITAEKLKKLGINKL- benzyl-thioester 

(279) 0.10 mmol TentaGel-R-Trityl resin was loaded with Fmoc-D-Leu-OH as described in Barlos et al. (Barlos et al., 1989). Therefore 0.10 mmol resin was incubated twice for 30 min with 0.6 mmol thionylchloride and subsequently washed with DCM. Following this the resin was incubated 90 min with 0.6 mmol Fmoc-D-Leu-OH, 2.4 mmol DIPEA in 6 ml DCM. Afterwards the resin was blocked three times for 10 min using a solution of 10% MeOH (v/v), 10% DIPEA (v/v) in DCM and washed with DCM. Automated synthesis was done using an ABI 433 with the FASTmoc protocol. 10 eq. amino acid were activated using 9 eq. HATU and 20 eq. DIPEA in NMP. Coupling time was 45 min and Fmoc-deprotection was performed three times for 7 min with 20% (v/v) piperidine in NMP.

(280) The cleavage of the fully protected peptide acid was achieved by incubating the peptidyl resin twice in 10 ml 30% (v/v) HFIP in DCM for 2 hours. After filtering off the peptide the solvent was evaporated and the residue precipitated using ice cold diethyl ether. The precipitated peptide was isolated and dried.

(281) The N-terminal Z- and completely side chain protected peptide 4 was solved 1 mM in DMF. After addition of 5 eq. PyBOP, 10 eq. DIPEA and 30 eq. benzyl mercaptan the mixture was stirred for 4 h. Then the DMF was evaporated, the peptide was precipitated and washed with ice-cold diethyl ether. The side chain protecting groups were removed by treatment with 2.5% EDT, 2.5% water, 2.5% TIS in TFA for 2 hours. After the evaporation of TFA the peptide was precipitated and washed with ice cold diethyl ether. The peptide-benzyl-thioester was then purified by reversed-phase HPLC and analyzed by reversed-phase UPLC (FIG. 25 A) and ESI-MS (FIG. 25 B). The theoretical molecular weight (M.sub.theor=5527 Da) corresponds the observed molecular weight (M.sub.obs=5534 Da) as shown by ESI-LC-MS.

(282) 12.7 Synthesis of All-D-Peptide

(283) TABLE-US-00036 (8) (SEQ ID NO: 375) H-CDMAKPNGIKVIDDEEVKRLIRELDIADVPGIGNITAEKLKKLGINKL CDTLSIEFDKLKGMIGEAKAKYLISLARDEYNEPIRTRVRKSIGRIVTMK RNSRNLEEIKPYLFRAIEESYYKLDKRIPKAIHVVAVTEDLDIVSRGRTF PHGISKETAYSESVKLLQKILEEDERKIRRIGVRFSKFIEAIGLDKFFD T-NH.sub.2 
By Native Chemical Ligation of Peptide 7 with Peptide 5.

(284) Both peptides 5 and 7 were solved 0.2 M in sodium-phosphate-buffer (100 mM, with 100 mM NaCl, pH 8) containing 2% Triton X100, 1% thiophenol and 5 mM tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine hydrochloride. The reaction mixture was shaken 48 h by room temperature. Afterwards the mixture was purified by reversed-phase HPLC on a RP-8-column (Vydac 208 TP, Grace GmbH & Co KG, Worms, Germany) by using a gradient of 30% to 80% ACN/methanol 1:1 in water/1% TFA within 30 min. Fractions containing product were pooled and purified in a second step by size exclusion chromatography on a Yarra 3u SEC-2000-column (Phenomenex, Aschaffenburg, Germany) using a 50 mM sodium-phosphate-buffer, pH 6, as mobile phase. After removal of salts in water/1% formic acid using a HiTrap desalting-column 5 ml (GE Healthcare GmbH, München, Germany) the peptide product fractions were freeze dried. For removal of the N-terminal Z-protecting group the peptide was solved in 270 eq. TFA and 50 eq. thioanisol and shaken for 6 h at room temperature (Yoshiaki Kiso et al, 1980). After evaporation of TFA the peptide was precipitated and washed by ice-cold diethyl ether. Analysis of the free peptide 8 was performed by SDS-PAGE (FIG. 26 A) and ESI-LC-mass spectrometry (FIG. 26 B). A band was found in between the 20 kDa-band and the 25 kDa-band of the marker indicating the ligation product. The theoretical molecular weight of the ligation product (M.sub.theor=22781 Da) corresponds the observed molecular weight (M.sub.obs=22796 Da) as shown by ESI-LC-MS.

(285) 12.8 Synthesis of All-D-Peptide

(286) TABLE-US-00037 (11) (SEQ ID NO: 346) Ac-MIVLFVDFDYFYAQVEEVLNPSLKGKPVVVCVFSGRFEDSGAVATA NYEARKFGVKAGIPIVEAIUULPNCVYLPMRKEVYQQVSSRIMNLLREY SEKIEIASIDEAYLDISDKVRDYREAYNLGLEIKNKILEKEKITVTVGI SKNKVFAKIA-SBzl 
By Native Chemical Ligation of Peptide 10 with Peptide 9

(287) Peptide 10 and peptide 9 were solved 0.5 mM in sodium-phosphate buffer (100 mM, pH 8, with 100 mM NaCl) containing 6 M guanidine-HCl, 5 mM tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine hydrochloride and 2% thiophenol. The reaction mixture was shaken for 72 h at room temperature. Hereupon the thiophenol-precipitate was centrifuged and the supernatant was purified by size exclusion chromatography using an Agilent SEC-3-column (Agilent Technologies Deutschland GmbH, Böblingen, Germany) and 6 M guanidine-HCl in 50 mM sodium-phosphate-buffer pH 6 as mobile phase. Fractions containing peptide were afterwards desalted in water/1% formic acid at a HiTrap desalting-column 5 ml (GE Healthcare GmbH, München, Germany). After freeze drying fractions were analyzed by SDS-PAGE (FIG. 27 A) and ESI-LC-mass-spectrometry (FIG. 27 B). A band was found in lanes 3 to 6 between the 15 kDa-band and 20 kDa-band of the marker indicating the ligation product. The theoretical molecular weight of the ligation product (M.sub.theor=17641 Da) corresponds the observed molecular weight (M.sub.obs=17641 Da) as shown by ESI-LC-MS.

(288) 12.9 Synthesis of the All-D Polymerase Dpo4 Variant A71C/A155C/V203C by Native Chemical Ligation of Peptide 11 with Peptide 8

(289) Both peptides 11 and 8 were solved 50 μM in sodium-phosphate-buffer (pH 8, 100 mM with 100 mM NaCl) containing 2% Triton X100, 1% thiophenol and 5 mM tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine hydrochloride. The reaction mixture was shaken 72 h by room temperature. Afterwards the reaction mixture was analyzed by SDS-PAGE (FIG. 28 A+B) and ESI-LC-mass spectrometry (FIG. 28 C). A band was found in lane 3 of the coomasie-stained gel (A) and in the corresponding lane of the silver-stained gel (B) between the 37 kDa-band and 50 kDa-band of the marker and in the exact high of the native L-Dpo4 indicating the ligation product. The theoretical molecular weight of the ligation product (M.sub.theor=40298 Da) corresponds the observed molecular weight (M.sub.obs=40945 Da) as shown by ESI-MS (C). The by 647 Da higher measured mass may be caused by a Triton X-100 adduct.

Example 13—Synthesis of Polymerase Dpo4 Variant M76G/A155C/V203C Consisting of D-Amino Acids

(290) Within the example the synthesis of the all-D polymerase Dpo variant M76G/A155C/V203C is described. The amino acid sequence of the all-D polymerase Dpo variant M76G/A155C/V203C is

(291) TABLE-US-00038 (SEQ ID NO: 97) Ac-MIVLFVDFDYFYAQVEEVLNPSLKGKPVVVCVFSGRFEDSGAVATA NYEARKFGVKAGIPIVEAKKILPNAVYLPGRKEVYQQVSSRIMNLLREY SEKIEIASIDEAYLDISDKVRDYREAYNLGLEIKNKILEKEKITVTVGI SKNKVFAKIACDMAKPNGIKVIDDEEVKRLIRELDIADVPGIGNITAEK LKKLGINKLCDTLSIEFDKLKGMIGEAKAKYLISLARDEYNEPIRTRVR KSIGRIVTMKRNSRNLEEIKPYLFRAIEESYYKLDKRIPKAIHVVAVTE DLDIVSRGRTFPHGISKETAYSESVKLLQKILEEDERKIRRIGVRFSKF IEAIGLDKFFDT-NH2.

(292) All amino acids used are protected according to the Solid-phase peptide synthesis Fmoc/tBu-strategy requirements (Eric Atherton et al, 1981). All amino acids used are D-amino acids (Bachem, Bubendorf, Switzerland).

(293) 13.1 Synthesis of H-Gly-OGp(Boc).sub.2

(294) 1 mmol Z-Gly-OH, 0.9 eq. TBTU and 0.9 mmol HO-Gp(Boc).sub.2 were dissolved in 10 ml DMF. After addition of 2 eq. DIPEA the solution was stirred for 2 hours. After evaporating the solvent the raw product was purified with flash chromatography using DCM:EE 9:1. Pure fractions of Z-Gly-OGp(Boc).sub.2 were combined and the solvent was evaporated. Z-Gly-OGp(Boc).sub.2 was dissolved in 10 ml MeOH and flushed with argon. Hydrolytic cleavage of the N-terminal Z-group was achieved by the addition of Pd/C catalyst and H.sub.2 in 2 hours. After filtrating off the catalyst the solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure. Analytics were performed using reversed phase HPLC and mass spectrometry. The calculated mass of 408 Da is in accordance to the experimentally determined mass of 409 Da.

(295) 13.2 Synthesis of Fully Protected All-D-Peptide H-R TFPHGISKET AYSESVKLLQ KILEEDERKI RRIGVRFSKF IEAIGLDKFF DT-NHS (1)(SEQ. ID. NO:81)

(296) 0.1 mmol Fmoc-Sieber rink amide NovaSynTG resin was loaded after Fmoc-deprotection with Fmoc-D-Thr(tBu)-OH using 5 eq. amino acid, eq. 4.9 eq. HATU and 10 eq. DIPEA for 45 min in 6 ml NMP.

(297) Automated synthesis was done using an ABI 433 synthesizer with the FASTmoc protocol. 10 eq. amino acid were activated using 9 eq. HATU and 20 eq. DIPEA in NMP. Coupling time was 45 min and Fmoc-deprotection was performed three times for 7 min with 20% (v/v) piperidine in NMP. Double coupling was performed after coupling of 42 amino acids.

(298) The cleavage of the fully protected peptide acid was achieved by incubating the peptidyl resin twice in 10 ml 1% (v/v) TFA in DCM for 2 hours. After filtering off the resin the solvent was evaporated and the peptide was precipitated using ice cold diethyl ether. Finally the peptide was isolated and dried.

(299) The final product was characterised by HPLC and mass spectrometry (FIG. 13). The calculated mass for the product (6244 Da) corresponds to the measured mass (6249 Da).

(300) 13.3 Synthesis of Fully Protected All-D-Peptide

(301) TABLE-US-00039 (3) (SEQ ID NO: 368) Boc-CDTLSIEF DKLKGMIGEA KAKYLISLAR DEYNEPIRTR VRKSIGRIVT MKRNSRNLEE  IKPYLFRAIE ESYYKLDKRI PKAIHVVAVT EDLDIVSRG-OH 

(302) 0.10 mmol TentaGel-R-Trityl resin was loaded with Fmoc-Gly-OH as described in Barlos et al. (Barlos et al., 1989). Therefore 0.10 mmol resin was incubated twice for 30 min with 0.6 mmol thionylchloride and subsequently washed with DCM. Following this the resin was incubated 90 min with 0.6 mmol Fmoc-Gly-OH, 2.4 mmol DIPEA in 6 ml DCM. Afterwards the resin was blocked three times for 10 min using a solution of 10% MeOH (v/v), 10% DIPEA (v/v) in DCM and washed with DCM. Automated synthesis was done using an ABI 433 with the FASTmoc protocol. 10 eq. amino acid were activated using 9 eq. HATU and 20 eq. DIPEA in NMP. Coupling time was 45 min and Fmoc-deprotection was performed three times for 7 min with 20% (v/v) piperidine in NMP. Double coupling steps were performed after coupling of 39 amino acids.

(303) The identity of the synthesized peptide was characterised after TFA cleavage of a small amount of peptidyl resin by HPLC and mass spectrometry (FIG. 14). The experimentally determined mass of the product (11289 Da) was in accordance to the theoretical value (11286 Da).

(304) The cleavage of the fully protected peptide acid was achieved by incubating the peptidyl resin twice in 10 ml 1% (v/v) TFA in DCM for 2 hours. After filtering off the resin the solvent was evaporated and the peptide was precipitated using ice cold diethyl ether. Finally the peptide was isolated and dried.

(305) 13.4 Synthesis of All-D-Peptide

(306) TABLE-US-00040 (5) (SEQ ID NO: 369) H-CDTLSIEFDKLKGMIGEAKAKYLISLARDEYNEPIRTRVRKSIGRIV TMKRNSRNLEEIKPYLFRAIEESYYKLDKRIPKAIHVVAVTEDLDIVSR GRTFPHGISKETAYSESVKLLQKILEEDERKIRRIGVRFSKFIEAIGLD KFFDT-NH.sub.2 
By Fragment Condensation of Peptide 1 with Peptide 3.

(307) 5 μmole (3) and 1 eq. (1) were dissolved in 25% (v/v) TFE in DCM. After addition of 5 eq. PyBOP and 10 eq. DIPEA the mixture was stirred overnight. After evaporating the solvent the peptide was precipitated using ice cold diethyl ether and filtered off.

(308) The cleavage of the side chain protection groups of the peptide was performed with 2.5% EDT, 2.5% water, 2.5% TIS in TFA for 2 hours. Following the evaporation of TFA the peptide was precipitated with ice cold diethyl ether. Reversed phase HPLC purification of the N-terminal Fmoc-protected peptide was performed on a C18 column using an ACN/water gradient. Fractions that contain product were combined and freeze dried.

(309) The final product was characterised by HPLC and mass spectrometry (FIG. 15). The experimentally determined mass (17531 Da) corresponds to the theoretical molecular mass (17512 Da).

(310) 13.5 Synthesis of All-D-Peptide

(311) TABLE-US-00041 (9) (SEQ ID NO: 348) H-RKEVYQQVSSRIMNLLREYSEKIEIASIDEAYLDISDKVRDYREAYNL GLEIKNKILEKEKITVTVGISKNKVFAKIA-SBzl 

(312) 0.10 mmol TentaGel-R-Trityl resin was loaded with Fmoc-D-Ala-OH as described in Barlos et al. (Barlos et al., 1989). Therefore 0.10 mmol resin was incubated twice for 30 min with 0.6 mmol thionylchloride and subsequently washed with DCM. Following this the resin was incubated 90 min with 0.6 mmol Fmoc-D-Ala-OH, 2.4 mmol DIPEA in 6 ml DCM. Afterwards the resin was blocked three times for 10 min using a solution of 10% MeOH (v/v), 10% DIPEA (v/v) in DCM and washed with DCM. Automated synthesis was done using an ABI 433 with the FASTmoc protocol. 10 eq. amino acid were activated using 9 eq. HATU and 20 eq. DIPEA in NMP. Coupling time was 45 min and Fmoc-deprotection was performed three times for 7 min with 20% (v/v) piperidine in NMP. Double coupling was performed after coupling of 44 amino acids. Acetylation of the N-terminus was performed with 10% (v/v) acetic anhydride and 10% (v/v) DIPEA in DMF three times for 10 min.

(313) The cleavage of the fully protected peptide acid was achieved by incubating the peptidyl resin twice in 10 ml 30% (v/v) HFIP in DCM for 2 hours. After filtering off the resin the solvent was evaporated and the residue precipitated using ice cold diethyl ether. The precipitated peptide was isolated and dried.

(314) 0.005 mmol fully protected peptide, 5 eq. PyBOP and 100 eq. benzylmercaptan were dissolved in 6 ml DCM. After addition of 10 eq. DIPEA the mixture was stirred for 4 hours. Following this the solvent was reduced evaporated and the residue precipitated by ice cold diethyl ether. The precipitated peptide ester was dried and subsequently protection groups were cleaved off using 2.5% EDT, 2.5% water, 2.5% TIS in TFA for 2 hours. Following the evaporation of TFA the peptide was precipitated with ice cold diethyl ether. Reversed phase HPLC purification of the peptide ester was performed on a C18 column using an ACN/water gradient. Fractions that contain exclusively product were combined and freeze dried.

(315) The final product was characterised by UPLC (FIG. 29) and mass spectrometry (FIG. 30). The molecular mass of the product determined by mass spectrometry (9217 Da) was in accordance to the calculated mass (9217 Da).

(316) 13.6 Synthesis of

(317) TABLE-US-00042 (10) (SEQ ID NO: 347) Ac-MIVLFVDFDY FYAQVEEVLNP SLKGKPVVV CVFSGRFEDS GAVATANYEA RKFGVKAGIP IVEAKKILPN AVYLPG-OGp 

(318) 0.10 mmol TentaGel-R-Trityl resin was loaded with Fmoc-D-Pro-OH as described in Barlos et al. (Barlos et al., 1989). Therefore 0.10 mmol resin was incubated twice for 30 min with 0.6 mmol thionylchloride and subsequently washed with DCM. Following this the resin was incubated 90 min with 0.6 mmol Fmoc-D-Pro-OH, 2.4 mmol DIPEA in 6 ml DCM. Afterwards the resin was blocked three times for 10 min using a solution of 10% MeOH (v/v), 10% DIPEA (v/v) in DCM and washed with DCM. Automated synthesis was done using an ABI 433 with the FASTmoc protocol. 10 eq. amino acid were activated using 9 eq. HATU and 20 eq. DIPEA in NMP. Coupling time was 45 min and Fmoc-deprotection was performed three times for 7 min with 20% (v/v) piperidine in NMP. Double coupling was performed after coupling of 45 amino acids. Acetylation of the N-terminus was performed with 10% (v/v) acetic anhydride and 10% (v/v) DIPEA in DMF three times for 10 min.

(319) The cleavage of the fully protected peptide acid was achieved by incubating the peptidyl resin twice in 10 ml 30% (v/v) HFIP in DCM for 2 hours. After filtering off the peptide the solvent was evaporated and the residue precipitated using ice cold diethyl ether. The precipitated peptide was isolated and dried.

(320) 0.005 mmol fully protected peptide, 5 eq. PyBOP and 10 eq. H-Gly-OGp(Boc).sub.2 were dissolved in 6 ml DCM. After addition of 10 eq. DIPEA the mixture was stirred for 4 hours. Following this the solvent was reduced evaporated and the residue precipitated by ice cold diethyl ether. The precipitated peptide ester was dried and subsequently protection groups were cleaved off using 2.5% EDT, 2.5% water, 2.5% TIS in TFA for 2 hours. Following the evaporation of TFA the peptide was precipitated with ice cold diethyl ether. Reversed phase HPLC purification of the peptide ester was performed on a C18 column using an ACN/water gradient. Fractions that contain product were combined and freeze dried.

(321) The final product was characterised by UPLC (FIG. 31) and mass spectrometry (FIG. 32). The molecular mass of the product determined by mass spectrometry (8481 Da) was in accordance to the calculated mass (8473 Da).

(322) 13.7 Synthesis of All-D-Peptide

(323) TABLE-US-00043 (7) (SEQ ID NO: 84) Z-CDMAKPNGIKVIDDEEVKRLIRELDIADVPGIGNITAEKLKKLGINKL- benzyl-thioester 

(324) 0.10 mmol TentaGel-R-Trityl resin was loaded with Fmoc-D-Leu-OH as described in Barlos et al. (Barlos et al., 1989). Therefore 0.10 mmol resin was incubated twice for 30 min with 0.6 mmol thionylchloride and subsequently washed with DCM. Following this the resin was incubated 90 min with 0.6 mmol Fmoc-D-Leu-OH, 2.4 mmol DIPEA in 6 ml DCM. Afterwards the resin was blocked three times for 10 min using a solution of 10% MeOH (v/v), 10% DIPEA (v/v) in DCM and washed with DCM. Automated synthesis was done using an ABI 433 with the FASTmoc protocol. 10 eq. amino acid were activated using 9 eq. HATU and 20 eq. DIPEA in NMP. Coupling time was 45 min and Fmoc-deprotection was performed three times for 7 min with 20% (v/v) piperidine in NMP.

(325) The cleavage of the fully protected peptide acid was achieved by incubating the peptidyl resin twice in 10 ml 30% (v/v) HFIP in DCM for 2 hours. After filtering off the peptide the solvent was evaporated and the residue precipitated using ice cold diethyl ether. The precipitated peptide was isolated and dried.

(326) The N-terminal Z- and completely side chain protected peptide 4 was solved 1 mM in DMF. After addition of 5 eq. PyBOP, 10 eq. DIPEA and 30 eq. benzyl mercaptan the mixture was stirred for 4 h. Then the DMF was evaporated, the peptide was precipitated and washed with ice-cold diethyl ether. The side chain protecting groups were removed by treatment with 2.5% EDT, 2.5% water, 2.5% TIS in TFA for 2 hours. After the evaporation of TFA the peptide was precipitated and washed with ice cold diethyl ether. The peptide-benzyl-thioester was then purified by reversed-phase HPLC and analyzed by reversed-phase UPLC (FIG. 25A) and ESI-MS (FIG. 25B). The theoretical molecular weight (M.sub.theor=5527 Da) corresponds the observed molecular weight (M.sub.obs=5534 Da) as shown by ESI-LC-MS.

(327) 13.8 Synthesis of All-D-Peptide

(328) TABLE-US-00044 (8) (SEQ ID NO: 375) H-CDMAKPNGIKVIDDEEVKRLIRELDIADVPGIGNITAEKLKKLGINK LCDTLSIEFDKLKGMIGEAKAKYLISLARDEYNEPIRTRVRKSIGRIVT MKRNSRNLEEIKPYLFRAIEESYYKLDKRIPKAIHVVAVTEDLDIVSRG RTFPHGISKETAYSESVKLLQKILEEDERKIRRIGVRFSKFIEAIGLDK FFDT-NH.sub.2 
By Native Chemical Ligation of Peptide 7 with Peptide 5

(329) Both peptides 5 and 7 were solved 0.2 M in sodium-phosphate-buffer (100 mM, with 100 mM NaCl, pH 8) containing 2% Triton X100, 1% thiophenol and 5 mM tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine hydrochloride. The reaction mixture was shaken 48 h by room temperature. Afterwards the mixture was purified by reversed-phase HPLC on a RP-8-column (Vydac 208 TP, Grace GmbH & Co KG, Worms, Germany) by using a gradient of 30% to 80% ACN/methanol 1:1 in water/1% TFA within 30 min. Fractions containing product were pooled and purified in a second step by size exclusion chromatography on a Yana 3u SEC-2000-column (Phenomenex, Aschaffenburg, Germany). The peptide product fractions were freeze dried. For removal of the N-terminal Z-protecting group the peptide was solved in 270 eq. TFA and 50 eq. thioanisol and shaken for 6 h at room temperature (Yoshiaki Kiso et al, 1980). After evaporation of TFA the peptide was precipitated and washed by ice-cold diethyl ether. Analysis of the free peptide 8 was performed by SDS-PAGE (FIG. 26A) and ESI-LC-mass spectrometry (FIG. 26B). A band was found in between the 20 kDa-band and the 25 kDa-band of the marker indicating the ligation product. The theoretical molecular weight of the ligation product (M.sub.theor=22781 Da) corresponds the observed molecular weight (M.sub.obs=22796 Da) as shown by ESI-LC-MS.

(330) 13.9 Synthesis of All-D-Peptide

(331) TABLE-US-00045 (11) (SEQ ID NO: 349) Ac-MIVLFVDFDYFYAQVEEVLNPSLKGKPVVVCVFSGRFEDSGAVATAN YEARKIFGVKAGIPIVEAIUULPNAVYLPGRKEVYQQVSSRIMNLLREYS EKIEIASIDEAYLDISDKVRDYREAYNLGLEIKNKILEKEKITVTVGISK NKVFAKIA-SBzl
By Protease-Catalyzed Ligation of Peptide 10 with Peptide 9.

(332) Peptide 10 was solved 0.2 mM and peptide 9 was solved 0.6 mM in sodium-phosphate buffer (100 mM, pH 8, with 100 mM NaCl) containing 4 M Urea. After addition of 20 μM Clostripain (Endoprotease Arg-C, Worthington Biochemical Corporation, Lakewood, N.J., USA) the reaction mixture was shaken overnight at 37° C. Hereupon 6 M guanidine-HCl were added and the mixture was purified by size exclusion chromatography using an Agilent SEC-3-column (Agilent Technologies Deutschland GmbH, Böblingen, Germany) with 6 M guanidine-HCl in 50 mM sodium-phosphate-buffer pH 6 as mobile phase. Fractions containing peptide were afterwards desalted in water/1% formic acid at a HiTrap desalting column 5 ml (GE Healthcare GmbH, München, Germany). After freeze drying fractions were analyzed by SDS-PAGE (FIG. 33A) and ESI-LC-mass-spectrometry. (FIG. 33B). A band was found in lanes 3 and 4 between 15 kDa and 20 kDa indicating the ligation product. The theoretical molecular weight of the ligation product (M.sub.theor=17612 Da) corresponds the observed molecular weight (M.sub.obs=17641 Da) as shown by ESI-MS.

(333) 13.10 Synthesis of the All-D Polymerase Dpo4 Variant M76G/A155C/V203C by Native Chemical Ligation of Peptide 11 with Peptide 8

(334) Both peptides 11 and 8 are solved 0.2 M in TRIS-buffer (pH 8.6) containing 2% Triton X100, 1% thiophenol and 5 mM tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine hydrochloride. The reaction mixture shakes 72 h by room temperature. Afterwards the mixture is purified by reversed-phase HPLC and analyzed by SDS-PAGE, reversed phase UPLC and ESI-mass spectrometry. The correct mass of the ligation product is found.

Example 14—Synthesis of Polymerase Dpo4 Variant A71C/A155C/V203C Consisting of D-Amino Acids by an Alternative Synthesis Strategy

(335) Within the example the synthesis of the all-D polymerase Dpo variant A71C/A155C/V203C is described. The amino acid sequence of the all-D polymerase Dpo variant A71C/A155C/V203C is

(336) TABLE-US-00046 (SEQ ID NO: 94) Ac-MIVLFVDFDYFYAQVEEVLNPSLKGKPVVVCVFSGRFEDSGAVATAN YEARKFGVKAGIPIVEAKKILPNCVYLPMRKEVYQQVSSRIMNLLREYSE KIEIASIDEAYLDISDKVRDYREAYNLGLEIKNKILEKEKITVTVGISKN KVFAKIACDMAKPNGIKVIDDEEVKRLIRELDIADVPGIGNITAEKLKKL GINKLCDTLSIEFDKLKGMIGEAKAKYLISLARDEYNEPIRTRVRKSIGR IVTMKRNSRNLEEIKPYLFRAIEESYYKLDKRIPKAIHVVAVTEDLDIVS RGRTFPHGISKETAYSESVKLLQKILEEDERkIRRIGVRFSKFIEAIGLD KFFDT-NH.sub.2.

(337) All amino acids used are protected according to the Solid-phase peptide synthesis Fmoc/tBu-strategy requirements (Eric Atherton et al, 1981). All amino acids used are D-amino acids (Bachem, Bubendorf, Switzerland).

(338) 14.1 Synthesis of Fully Protected All-D-Peptide H-

(339) TABLE-US-00047 (1) (SEQ ID NO: 350) KAIHVVAVTEDLDIVSRGRTFPHGISKETAYSESVKLLQKILEEDERKIR RIGVRFSKFIEAIGLDKFFDT-NH.sub.2

(340) 0.1 mmol Fmoc-Sieber rink amide NovaSynTG resin was loaded after Fmoc-deprotection with Fmoc-D-Thr(tBu)-OH using 5 eq. amino acid, eq. 4.9 eq. HATU and 10 eq. DIPEA for 45 min in 6 ml NMP.

(341) Automated synthesis was done using an ABI 433 synthesizer with the FASTmoc protocol. 10 eq. amino acid were activated using 9 eq. HATU and 20 eq. DIPEA in NMP. Coupling time was 45 min and Fmoc-deprotection was performed three times for 7 min with 20% piperidine (v/v) in NMP. Double coupling was performed after coupling of 42 amino acids.

(342) The cleavage of the fully protected peptide acid was achieved by incubating the peptidyl resin twice in 10 ml 1% TFA (v/v) in DCM for 2 hours. After filtering off the resin the solvent was evaporated and the peptide was precipitated using ice cold diethyl ether. Finally the peptide was isolated and dried.

(343) The final product was characterised by HPLC and mass spectrometry (FIG. 34). The calculated mass for the product (8148 Da) corresponds to the measured mass (8156 Da).

(344) 14.2 Synthesis of Fully Protected All-D-Peptide

(345) TABLE-US-00048 (3) (SEQ ID NO: 351) H-CDTLSIEF DKLKGMIGEA KAKYLISLAR DEYNEPIRTR VRKSIGRIVT MKRNSRNLEE IKPYLFRAIE ESYYKLDKRI P-OH 

(346) 0.10 mmol TentaGel-R-Trityl resin was loaded with Fmoc-D-Pro-01-1 as described in Barlos et al. (Barlos et al., 1989). Therefore 0.10 mmol resin was incubated twice for 30 min with 0.6 mmol thionylchloride and subsequently washed with DCM. Following this the resin was incubated 90 min with 0.6 mmol Fmoc-D-Pro-OH, 2.4 mmol DIPEA in 6 ml DCM. Afterwards the resin was blocked three times for 10 min using a solution of 10% MeOH (v/v), 10% DIPEA (v/v) in DCM and washed with DCM. Automated synthesis was done using an ABI 433 with the FASTmoc protocol. 10 eq. amino acid were activated using 9 eq. HATU and 20 eq. DIPEA in NMP. Coupling time was 45 min and Fmoc-deprotection was performed three times for 7 min with 20% piperidine (v/v) in NMP. Double coupling steps were performed after coupling of 40 amino acids. The N-terminal Cystein derivative was Boc-D-Cys(Trt)-OH.

(347) The identity of the synthesized peptide was characterised after TFA cleavage of a small amount of peptidyl resin by HPLC and mass spectrometry (FIG. 35). The experimentally determined mass of the product (9393 Da) was in accordance to the theoretical value (9382 Da).

(348) The cleavage of the fully protected peptide acid was achieved by incubating the peptidyl resin twice in 10 ml 1% TFA (v/v) in DCM for 2 hours. After filtering off the resin the solvent was evaporated and the peptide was precipitated using ice cold diethyl ether. Finally the peptide was isolated and dried.

(349) 14.3 Synthesis of All-D-Peptide

(350) TABLE-US-00049 (5) (SEQ ID NO: 369) H-CDTLSIEFDKLKGMIGEAKAKYLISLARDEYNEPIRTRVRKSIGRIVT MKRNSRNLEEIKPYLFRAIEESYYKLDKRIPKAIHVVAVTEDLDIVSRGR TFPHGISKETAYSESVKLLQKILEEDERKIRRIGVRFSKFIEAIGLDKFF DT-NH.sub.2
By Fragment Condensation of Peptide 1 with Peptide 3.

(351) 5 μmole (3) and 1 eq. (1) were dissolved in 25% TFE (v/v) in DCM. After addition of 5 eq. PyBOP and 10 eq. DIPEA the mixture was stirred overnight. After evaporating the solvent the peptide was precipitated using ice cold diethyl ether and filtered off.

(352) The cleavage of the side chain protection groups of the peptide was performed with 2.5% EDT (v/v), 2.5% water (v/v), 2.5% TIS (v/v) in TFA for 2 hours. Following the evaporation of TFA the peptide was precipitated with ice cold diethyl ether. Reversed phase HPLC purification of the N-terminal Fmoc-protected peptide was performed on a C18 column using an ACN/water gradient. Fractions that contain product were combined and freeze dried.

(353) The final product was characterised by HPLC and mass spectrometry (FIG. 36). The experimentally determined mass (17529 Da) corresponds to the theoretical molecular mass (17512 Da).

(354) 14.4 Synthesis of all-D-Peptide

(355) TABLE-US-00050 (9) (SEQ ID NO: 352) H-CVYLPMRKEVYQQVSSRIMNLLREYSEKIEIASIDEAYLDISDKVRDY REAYNLGLEIKNKILEKEKITVTVGISKNKVFAKIA-NHNH.sub.2 

(356) 0.10 mmol TentaGel-R-Trityl resin was loaded with hydrazide as described in Zheng et al. (Zheng et al., 2013). Therefore 0.10 mmol resin was incubated twice for 30 min with 0.6 mmol thionylchloride and subsequently washed with DCM and 50% DMF (v/v) in DCM. Following this the resin was incubated twice for 30 min with 5% NH.sub.2NH.sub.2 (v/v) in DMF. Afterwards the resin was blocked three times for 10 min using a solution of 10% MeOH (v/v), 10% DIPEA (v/v) in DCM and washed with DCM. Coupling of the first amino acid was achieved by incubating the resin for one hour with 1 mmol Fmoc-D-Ala-OH, 0.9 mmol HATU, 2 mmol DIPEA dissolved in NMP. Automated synthesis was done using an ABI 433 with the FASTmoc protocol. 10 eq. amino acid were activated using 9 eq. HATU and 20 eq. DIPEA in NMP. Coupling time was 45 min and Fmoc-deprotection was performed three times for 7 min with 20% piperidine (v/v) in NMP. Double coupling was performed after coupling of 43 amino acids.

(357) The cleavage of the peptide hydrazide from the resin was achieved by incubating the peptidyl resin in 2.5% EDT (v/v), 2.5% water (v/v), 2.5% TIS (v/v) in TFA for 2 hours. Following the evaporation of TFA the peptide was precipitated with ice cold diethyl ether. Reversed phase HPLC purification of the peptide ester was performed on a C18 column using an ACN/water gradient. Fractions that contain exclusively product were combined and freeze dried.

(358) The final product was characterised by UPLC (FIG. 37 A) and mass spectrometry (FIG. 37 B). The molecular mass of the product determined by mass spectrometry (9843 Da) was in accordance to the calculated mass (9830 Da).

(359) 14.5 Synthesis of

(360) TABLE-US-00051 (11) (SEQ ID NO: 345) Ac-MIVLFVDFDYFYAQVEEVLNPSLKGKPVVVCVFSGRFEDSGAVATAN YEARKFGVKAGIPIVEAKKILPN-SBzl 

(361) 0.10 mmol TentaGel-R-Trityl resin was loaded with Fmoc-D-Asn(Trt)-OH as described in Barlos et al. (Barlos et al., 1989). Therefore 0.10 mmol resin was incubated twice for 30 min with 0.6 mmol thionylchloride and subsequently washed with DCM. Following this the resin was incubated 90 min with 0.6 mmol Fmoc-D-Asn(Trt)-OH, 2.4 mmol DIPEA in 6 ml DCM. Afterwards the resin was blocked three times for 10 min using a solution of 10% MeOH (v/v), 10% DIPEA (v/v) in DCM and washed with DCM. Automated synthesis was done using an ABI 433 with the FASTmoc protocol. 10 eq. amino acid were activated using 9 eq. HATU and 20 eq. DIPEA in NMP. Coupling time was 45 min and Fmoc-deprotection was performed three times for 7 min with 20% piperidine (v/v) in NMP. Double coupling was performed after coupling of 40 amino acids. Acetylation of the N-terminus was performed with 10% acetic anhydride (v/v) and 10% DIPEA (v/v) in DMF three times for 10 min.

(362) The cleavage of the fully protected peptide acid was achieved by incubating the peptidyl resin twice in 10 ml 30% HFIP (v/v) in DCM for 2 hours. After filtering off the peptide the solvent was evaporated and the residue precipitated using ice cold diethyl ether. The precipitated peptide was isolated and dried.

(363) 0.005 mmol fully protected peptide, 5 eq. PyBOP and 100 eq. benzylmercaptane were dissolved in 6 ml DCM. After addition of 10 eq. DIPEA the mixture was stirred for 4 hours. Following this the solvent was reduced evaporated and the residue precipitated by ice cold diethyl ether. The precipitated peptide ester was dried and subsequently protection groups were cleaved off using 2.5% EDT (v/v), 2.5% water (v/v), 2.5% TIS (v/v) in TFA for 2 hours. Following the evaporation of TFA the peptide was precipitated with ice cold diethyl ether. Reversed phase HPLC purification of the peptide ester was performed on a C18 column using an ACN/water gradient. Fractions that contain exclusively product were combined and freeze dried.

(364) The final product was characterised by UPLC (FIG. 23) and mass spectrometry (FIG. 24). The molecular mass of the product determined by mass spectrometry (7848 Da) was in accordance to the calculated mass (7845 Da).

(365) 14.6 Synthesis of All-D-Peptide

(366) TABLE-US-00052 (7) (SEQ ID NO: 370) lipo-CDMAKPNGIKVIDDEEVKRLIRELDIADVPGIGNITAEKLKKLGI NKL-4-acetamidothiophenylester 

(367) 0.10 mmol TentaGel-R-Trityl resin was loaded with Fmoc-D-Leu-OH as described in Barlos et al. (Barlos et al., 1989). Therefore 0.10 mmol resin was incubated twice for 30 min with 0.6 mmol thionylchloride and subsequently washed with DCM. Following this the resin was incubated 90 min with 0.6 mmol Fmoc-D-Leu-OH, 2.4 mmol DIPEA in 6 ml DCM. Afterwards the resin was blocked three times for 10 min using a solution of 10% MeOH (v/v), 10% DIPEA (v/v) in DCM and washed with DCM. Automated synthesis was done using an ABI 433 with the FASTmoc protocol. 10 eq. amino acid were activated using 9 eq. HATU and 20 eq. DIPEA in NMP. Coupling time was 45 min and Fmoc-deprotection was performed three times for 7 min with 20% (v/v) piperidine in NMP. After the final coupling step Fmoc-deprotection was carried out. The lipo tag was introduced by incubating the resin with 10 eq. 4-Nitrophenyl-2-(octadecylsulfonyl)ethylcarbonate, 10 eq. HOBt and 10 eq. DIPEA in NMP overnight according to Garcia-Echeverria (Garcia-Echeverria, C. 1995). Following this the resin was washed with NMP and DCM.

(368) The cleavage of the fully protected peptide acid was achieved by incubating the peptidyl resin twice in 10 ml 30% (v/v) HFIP in DCM for 2 hours. After filtering off the peptide the solvent was evaporated and the residue precipitated using ice cold diethyl ether. The precipitated peptide was isolated and dried.

(369) 0.05 mmol N-terminal lipo- and completely side chain protected peptide 4 was dissolved in DCM. After addition of 5 eq. PyBOP, 10 eq. DIPEA and 30 eq. 4-Acetamidothiophenol the mixture was stirred for 4 h. Then the DCM was evaporated, the peptide was precipitated and washed with ice-cold diethyl ether. The side chain protecting groups were removed by treatment with 2.5% EDT (v/v), 2.5% water (v/v), 2.5% TIS (v/v) in TFA for 2 hours. After the evaporation of TFA the peptide was precipitated and washed with ice cold diethyl ether. The peptide-4-acetamidothiophenylester was then purified by reversed-phase HPLC and analyzed by reversed-phase UPLC and mass spectrometry. The theoretical molecular weight (M.sub.theor=5844) corresponds the observed molecular weight (M.sub.obs=5847) as shown by ESI-LC-MS.

(370) 14.7 Synthesis of All-D-Peptide

(371) TABLE-US-00053 (8) (SEQ ID NO: 375) H-CDMAKPNGIKVIDDEEVKRLIRELDIADVPGIGNITAEKLKKLGINKL CDTLSIEFDKLKGMIGEAKAKYLISLARDEYNEPIRTRVRKSIGRIVTMK RNSRNLEEIKPYLFRAIEESYYKLDKRIPKAIHVVAVTEDLDIVSRGRTF PHGISKETAYSESVKLLQKILEEDERKIRRIGVIZFSKFIEAIGLDKFFD T-NH.sub.2 
By Native Chemical Ligation of Peptide 7 with Peptide 5.

(372) Both peptides 5 and 7 were dissolved 2 mM in sodium-phosphate-buffer (200 mM, 6 M guanidine HCl, pH 8) containing 200 mM Mercaptophenylacetic acid and 50 mM tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine hydrochloride. The reaction mixture was shaken 24 h by room temperature. Afterwards the mixture was purified by reversed-phase HPLC on a RP-4-column (Jupiter 5 μm, 300 Å, Phenomenex, Aschaffenburg, Germany) by using a gradient of 30% to 95% ACN (0.1% TFA) within 30 min. Fractions containing product were combined and freeze dried. Cleavage of the lipo tag was achieved by incubating the dried product with 10% NH.sub.4OH in TFE overnight according to Garcia-Echeverria (Garcia-Echeverria, C. 1995). Purification of the final product was carried out using the same HPLC conditions as described above. The theoretical molecular weight of the ligation product (M.sub.theor=22781 Da) corresponds the observed molecular weight (M.sub.obs=22796 Da) as shown by ESI-LC-MS.

(373) 14.8 Synthesis of All-D-Peptide

(374) TABLE-US-00054 (11) (SEQ ID NO: 371) Ac-MIVLFVDFDYFYAQVEEVLNPSLKGKPVVVCVFSGRFEDSGAVATAN YEARKFGVKAGIPIVEAKKILPNCVYLPMRKEVYQQVSSRIMNLLREYSE KIEIASIDEAYLDISDKVRDYREAYNLGLEIKNKILEKEKITVTVGISKN KVFAKIA-NHNH.sub.2 
By Native Chemical Ligation of Peptide 10 with Peptide 9

(375) Peptide 10 and peptide 9 were solved 2 mM in sodium-phosphate buffer (200 mM, 6 M guanidine-HCl, pH 8) containing 200 mM Mercaptophenylacetic acid and 50 mM tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine hydrochloride. The reaction mixture was shaken for 24 h at room temperature. HPLC-purification was carried out using a C4 column (Jupiter 5 μm, 300 Å, Phenomenex, Aschaffenburg, Germany) and a gradient of 30-95% ACN (0.1% TFA) in 30 min. Product containing fractions were combined and freeze dried. The theoretical molecular weight of the ligation product (M.sub.theor=17641 Da) corresponds the observed molecular weight (M.sub.obs=17641 Da) as shown by ESI-LC-MS.

(376) 14.9 Synthesis of the All-D Polymerase Dpo4 Variant A71C/A155C/V203C by Native Chemical Ligation of Peptide 11 with Peptide 8

(377) Oxidation of the hydrazide functionality of peptide 11, transformation into a thioester and native chemical ligations is done according to Zheng et al. (Zheng et al., 2013). Peptide 11 is dissolved 2 mM in sodium-phosphate-buffer (200 mM, 6 M guanidine-HCl, pH 3) and placed in a −15° C. ice-bath. Oxidation is achieved by adding NaNO.sub.2 to give a final concentration of 50 mM. After 15 min the solution is mixed with a 2 mM solution of peptide 8 in sodium-phosphate-buffer (200 mM, 6 M guanidine-HCl, pH 8) containing 200 mM Mercaptophenylacetic acid and 50 mM TCEP.

(378) The reaction mixture is shaken 24 h by room temperature. Afterwards the reaction mixture is analyzed by SDS-PAGE and ESI-LC-mass spectrometry.

Example 15—Activity Confirmation of Synthetic Polymerase Dpo4 Consisting of D-Amino Acids

(379) This example describes a PCR activity test for all-D polymerase Dpo4 variants A155C/V203C, A71C/A155C/V203C and M76G/A155C/V203C according to examples 11, 12, 13 and 14, wherein all-D polymerase Dpo4 variant A71C/A155C/V203C can be produced the synthesis and ligation according to example 13 or 14.

(380) Surprisingly, the synthetic all-D polymerase Dpo4 variants A155C/V203C, A71C/A155C/V203C and M76G/A155C/V203C are active without extra refolding efforts and thus is used without further refolding procedure. Protein concentration is estimated by sodium dodecyl sulphate (abbr. SDS) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (abbr. PAGE) on pre-cast gels (Invitrogen, Karlsruhe, Germany) using a standard series of known protein concentrations followed by SYPRO-RED staining (Invitrogen, Karlsruhe, Germany) and densiometric band analysis on a BioRad Fx scanner instrument.

(381) 14.1 Templates for PCR Activity Assay

(382) Template for the PCR reaction is a 83-mer single-stranded L-DNA oligonucleotide (MJ_1_105_LD) from which, in the first thermal cycle, the opposite strand is made. Thereafter both strands serve as template for exponential amplification. Template DNA oligonucleotide and DNA primers are synthesized at NOXXON in L-configuration.

(383) List of oligonucleotides for PCR activity assay:

(384) TABLE-US-00055 Length, Config- Name nt uration Sequence (5′.fwdarw.3′) MJ_1_105_LD 83 L GTGGAACCGACAACTTGTGCTGCGTCCAGCATAAGA AAGGAGCTCCCTCAGAAGAAGCTGCGCAGCGTGCCA GTCTGAGCTCC (SEQ ID NO: 372) MJ_oligo_187_LD 38 L TCTAATACGACTCACTATAGGAGCTCAGACTGGCAC GC (SEQ ID NO: 373) MJ oligo_189_LD 20 L GTGGAACCGACAACTTGTGC (SEQ ID NO: 374)

(385) 14.2 PCR Reactions

(386) 15 μl PCR reactions contain 0.2 mM each of the four L-dNTP's, 10 nM 83-mer ssDNA (MJ_1_105_LD) template, 1 μM of forward and reverse primer, lx ThermoPol buffer (Invitrogen, 20 mM Tris-HCl, 10 mM KCl, 10 mM (NH.sub.4).sub.2SO.sub.4, 2 mM MgSO.sub.4, 0.1% Triton X-100, pH 8.8@25° C.) and at least 0.67 ng/μl all-D polymerase Dpo4 variant A155C/V203C. The forward primer is MJ_oligo_187_LD yielding a PCR product of 102 bp, which is distinguishable from the 83-mer template. The reverse primer is MJ_oligo_89_LD. The L-dNTP's are purchased as custom synthesis by Rasayan, Inc. (Encinitas, Calif., USA).

(387) Negative controls are conducted by omitting the all-D polymerase Dpo4 variant A155C/V203C.

(388) The thermal cycling program consists of 1 cycle (85° C., 3 min) then at least 7 cycles (85° C., 30 sec/56° C., 1 min/60° C., 4 min) then hold at 4° C. 4 μl aliquots of the PCR reactions are mixed with sample loading buffer and analyzed on TBE gels. A DNA standard ladder containing, among others, a 100 bp band is applied on the gel.

(389) 14.3 Activity Confirmation

(390) The PCR reaction with all-D polymerase Dpo4 variant A155C/V203C and L-DNA substrate and L-nucleotides yields a band in the range of about 100 bp as compared with the DNA standard ladder. Said band does not appear in the negative controls, where polymerase is omitted. Also said 102 bp band migrates higher than the 83-mer template. The all-D polymerase Dpo4 variant A155C/V203C dependent appearance of an L-DNA amplification product thus confirms the activity of the synthetic all-D polymerase Dpo4 variant A155C/V203C in a thermal amplification process.

Example 15—Synthesis of D- or L-Nucleic Acids

(391) L-DNA nucleic acids or D-DNA nucleic acids were produced by solid-phase synthesis with an ABI 394 synthesizer (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif., USA) using 2′TBDMS DNA phosphoramidite chemistry with standard exocyclic amine protecting groups (Damha and Ogilvie, 1993). For the DNA synthesis dA(N-Bz)-, dC(N-Ac)-, dG(N-ibu)-, and dT in the D- and L-configuration were applied. All phosphoramidites were purchased from ChemGenes, Wilmington, Mass. After synthesis and deprotection L-DNA nucleic acids or D-DNA nucleic acids were purified by gel electrophoresis.

REFERENCES

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(393) The features of the present invention disclosed in the specification, the claims and/or the drawings may both separately and in any combination thereof be material for realizing the invention in various forms thereof.