What component or agent can the TE buffer contribute to having an unsuccessful PCR result
If there was too much TE then the TE contains EDTA which chelates divalent ions like magnesium and the Taq polymerase need magnesiun to be able to work. This is why taq mixes usually have an additional tube of magnesium chloride or sulphate so that the magnesium starting concentration can be adjusted to cope with pcr inhibitors that remove Mg
the E stands for EDTA. too much in your PCR reaction will remove Mg and inhibit your polymerase. I used to use TE- (TE minus) with 01 mM EDTA rather than 1 mM. All depends on your sample: reaction volume ratio and how diluted your sample buffer will become.
While TE is very good reagent for DNA preservation, it must be diluted when used for PCR/qPCR reactions to avoid the inhibition of Taq Polymerase, as explained by the two answers above. Good luck
These are good answers. I would like to add some nuance by saying that adding EDTA in TE is not bad per se, since it can be balanced by addition of Mg++. However, the annealing temp of the primers in PCR is influenced by the concentration of free Mg++, so you want to have a consistent level of Mg++ and, thus, EDTA. This is why we try to minimize the concentration of EDTA in any reagent that is added to PCR reactions, especially the ones that represent a significant volume in your reaction. So, by using nuclease free water rather than TE (and minimizing EDTA content of other reagents), the EDTA level can be kept to a minimum and kept consistent from reaction-to-reaction.
The EDTA in the TE buffer can chelate Mg2+ which is an essential cofactor for many enzymes used in PCR and this can lead to reduced PCR efficiency. The TE buffer can also interfere with PCR by affecting the pH of the reaction mixture and this can be problematic if the if the PCR requires a specific pH range for optimal enzyme activity.
But the nuclease free water does not contain EDTA and also maintains a neutral pH which reduces the risk of interference with PCR .
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