One buffer for 176 enzymes. It's that easy.

One buffer for 176 enzymes. It's that easy.

Thermo Scientific FastDigest restriction enzymes are an advanced line of enzymes which offer:

  • Complete digestion in 5–15 minutes
  • 100% buffer compatibility with downstream applications
  • Direct loading on gels

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Supported by over 40 years of experience

Through the FastDigest collection, you have access to one of the largest collections of restriction enzymes in the industry. Decades of expertise in enzymology, the large selection of enzyme isoschizomers, and the ability to produce enzymes of exceptional purity from our state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities helped enable the creation of the first simplified restriction enzyme system using a universal buffer.

Advantages of FastDigest restriction enzymes

 FastDigest restriction enzymesConventional restriction enzymes
Buffer systemOne universal bufferUp to 20 buffers
Double/multiple restriction digestionUnlimited—all 176 enzymes are 100% active in one bufferLimited by buffer compatibility
Reaction Time5–15 minutes1 hour–overnight
Direct loading on gelsYesNo
Downstream applications100% buffer compatibilityPartial compatibility
Star activityNoYes
Activity definition1 µL of FastDigest enzyme cleaves 1 µg of substrate DNA in 5 to 15 minutes in FastDigest buffer1 unit of enzyme hydrolyzes 1 µg of lambda DNA in 60 minutes in an optimal buffer for an enzyme

100% activity in a single buffer

The FastDigest Green Buffer and Thermo Scientific FastDigest Buffer are proprietary digestion buffers which support 100% activity of all FastDigest restriction enzymes. This system allows for double and multiple digestions with any combination of enzymes. No sequential digestions or buffer changes are needed.

Five-minute single, double and triple digestions in FastDigest Green Buffer

Five-minute single, double and triple digestions in FastDigest Green Buffer

Five minute plasmid DNA digestions with:

  • Lane M: Thermo Scientific GeneRuler Express Ladder (Cat. No. SM1553)
  • Lane 1: Control, undigested plasmid DNA
  • Lane 2: FastDigest EcoRI
  • Lane 3: FastDigest EcoRI and FastDigest KpnI
  • Lane 4: FastDigest EcoRI, FastDigest KpnI, and FastDigest SmaI

100% buffer compatibility with downstream applications

DNA/RNA modifying enzymes, such as ligases, phosphatases, kinases and mesophilic DNA polymerases have 100% activity in FastDigest and FastDigest Green Buffer. Therefore, enzymes used in downstream applications can be directly added to the FastDigest reaction mix. No buffer changes or purification steps are needed.

DNA/RNA modifying enzymeCat. No.Activity in FastDigest Green Buffer/FastDigest Buffer
DNA Polymerase I, E. coliEP0041
EP0042
100%
Klenow FragmentEP0051
EP0052
100%
Klenow Fragment, exo-EP0421
EP0422
100%
T4 DNA PolymeraseEP0061
EP0062
100%
T7 DNA PolymeraseEP0081100%
T4 DNA Ligase*EL0011
EL0012
75–100%
FastAP Thermosensitive Alkaline PhosphataseEF0651
EF0652
EF0654
100%
T4 Polynucleotide KinaseEK0031
EK0032
100%

* 0.5 mM ATP is required for T4 DNA Ligase activity


Complete digestion in 5–15 minutes

Double and multiple digestions in one buffer in 5–15 minutes:

  • Saves time and effort, increasing throughput
  • Digestion times are provided for all types of DNA templates (plasmid DNA, PCR product, genomic DNA)
  • No overnight digestions are required for any template
  • Star activity is eliminated due to short reaction times
Conventional restriction enzymes
Sequential digestion
FastDigest restriction enzymes
One reaction mixture
Reaction setup for Apal~2 minReaction set up with FastDigest ApaI and XhoI~2 min
Incubation60 minIncubation5 min
Reaction setup for Xhol~2 min
Incubation60 min
TOTAL TIME>2 hoursTOTAL TIME 7 min

Direct loading on gels

Five minute single, double and triple digestions in FastDigest Green Buffer

As an added convenience we developed the FastDigest Green Buffer which offers the same performance as the colorless FastDigest Buffer but enables direct loading of the reaction mixture on gels. The 10X FastDigest Green Buffer includes a density reagent and two tracking dyes for direct loading. The blue dye migrates with 3–5 kb DNA fragments in a 1% agarose gel and has an excitation peak of 424 nm. The yellow dye migrates faster than 10 bp DNA fragments in a 1% agarose gel and has an excitation peak of 615 nm.

FastDigest Green Buffer

Reaction mixture containing FastDigest Green Buffer:

  • Lane 1: Loaded into gel well, before electrophoresis
  • Lane 2: Separated, after electrophoresis

Short protocol times with no star activity

FastDigest enzymes in combination with FastDigest (Green) Buffer are designed to eliminate star activity:

  • Short incubation time (5–15 min), no need for prolonged digestions.
  • Universal buffer with optimal pH and salt concentration for all enzymes.
  • Optimal enzyme and glycerol concentrations.

Conventional restriction enzymes may display star or "relaxed" activity due to prolonged incubation times, high enzyme and/or glycerol concentration, high pH values or low ionic strength. By addressing all these issues, FastDigest enzymes enable single, double and even triple digestion in 5 minutes without any signs of star activity.

Five minute single, double and triple digestions in FastDigest Green Buffer

Five minute single and double digestion of plasmid DNA with no signs of star activity

Five minute plasmid DNA digestions with:

  • Lane 1: FastDigest SmaI
  • Lane 2: FastDigest EcoRI
  • Lane 3: FastDigest SmaI and FastDigest EcoRI double digest
  • Lane M: GeneRuler 1 kb Plus DNA Ladder (Cat. No. SM1333)
  • Lane C: Control, Undigested plasmid DNA

For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.