What is the recommended final concentration of each dNTP in common PCR applications?

The recommended final concentration of each deoxynucleotide triphosphate (dNTP) in common PCR applications is typically 0.2 mM. This concentration strikes an optimal balance for providing sufficient dNTPs for the DNA polymerase to synthesize the target nucleic acid without leading to the issues of substrate inhibition or imbalanced nucleotide incorporation.

At this concentration, the enzyme can efficiently catalyze the polymerization process while also ensuring that the reaction conditions remain favorable for the amplification of the target DNA sequence. If the concentration is too low, the reaction may not produce adequate yield, while excessively high concentrations can lead to nonspecific amplification or reduced fidelity of the PCR product. Hence, 0.2 mM has been established as a standard concentration for effective PCR performance.