Purified from an E.coli strain carrying a plasmid with the cloned gene encoding this enzyme. SP6 RNA Polymerase has a stringent specificity for its own promoter sequences and catalyzes the synthesis of RNA from ribonucleoside triphosphates in the presence of a DNA template. Applications: Generation of strand-specific RNA sequences (see Protocol for Synthesis of Strand-specific RNA Sequences and Protocol for Synthesis of High Specific Activity Radiolabeled RNA Sequences) that may be used: Probes for hybridization (1) and genomic DNA sequencing (2), RNase protection assays (3), Antisense RNAs (4) Templates for in vitro RNA translation analysis (5) Substrates for studies of RNA splicing (6), RNA secondary structure and RNA-protein interactions (7). Supplied with 20u/ul 0.25ml of 5X Transcription Buffer Unit Definition: One unit of enzyme incorporates 1 nanomole of AMP into a polynucleotide fraction (adsorbed on DE-81) in 60 minutes at 37°C. Activity Assay: 40mM Tris-HCl (pH 8.0), 6mM MgCl