Polymerase enhancing factor (PEF) extracts, PEF protein complexes, isolated PEF proteins, and methods for purifying and identifying same

A method of enhancing a nucleic acid polymerase reaction comprising, in any appropriate order:

• (a) mixing a nucleic acid sequence template for a nucleic acid polymerase with at least one nucleic acid polymerase;
• and
• (b) adding to the polymerase reaction medium a polymerase enhancing, non-naturally occurring composition of matter comprising at least one component possessing nucleic acid polymerase enhancing activity selected from an isolated or purified naturally-occurring polymerase enhancing protein obtained from a bacterial or archaeal source;
• a wholly or partially synthetic protein having the same amino acid sequence as said naturally-occurring protein or analogs thereof possessing polymerase enhancing activity;
• polymerase-enhancing mixtures of one or more of said naturally occurring or wholly or partially synthetic proteins;
• polymerase-enhancing protein complexes of one or more of said naturally occurring or wholly or partially synthetic proteins;
• or polymerase enhancing. partially purified cell extracts containing one or more of said naturally occurring proteins.