Figure 5.

MTHFR amplifications using a Scorpion or TaqMan probe with either GoldStar Taq polymerase or 5′–3′ exonuclease deficient Taq polymerase. The fluorescence increase observed for the Scorpion when using the 5′–3′ exonuclease deficient enzyme indicates that the Scorpion signal is not entirely due to TaqMan-like enzymatic cleavage of the probe. The drop in fluorescence seen for the Scorpion 5′–3′ sample after the plateau phase may be due to the reaction moving towards an equilibrium state between the probe being bound or dissociated. The other samples have not reached the plateau phase of the reaction. Pos, positive sample; Neg, negative control; GS, GoldStar; 5′–3′, the 5′–3′ exonuclease deficient enzyme.