ExactSTART Platform of Transcriptome Discovery Tools Epicentre Biotechnologies
The ExactSTART (START Selective Tagging and Amplification of RNA Transcripts) Platform Kits combine the advantages of T4 RNA Ligase mediated RNA tagging with a select group of RNA modifying enzymes that have strict enzymatic specificity. When used in a defined order, these enzymes enable the researcher to selectively 'tag' the 5' and 3' ends of a specific class of RNA contained in a total RNA preparation. Examples include 5'-capped RNAs (eukaryotic mRNA's and eukaryotic viral RNAs), 5' –triphosphorylated RNA's (e.g., some noncoding RNA's), 5'-monophosphorylated RNAs (e.g., miRNA, large rRNAs), as well as other RNAs whose functions are not yet identified. By incorporating 5' and 3' tags with unique, functional sequences, the selected class of transcripts can be amplified for a specific downstream apllication such as next-gen sequencing, rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE), library cloning, RT-PCR, microarray target preparation, and other gene discovery and analysis methods.
DNA microarrays provide a powerful method to measure the abundance of thousands of different RNA molecules in a single experiment. The amount of RNA required for gene expression analysis, however, can be a limiting factor when the available biological sample is small, as in the case of needle biopsies or laser capture micro-dissected cells. RNA amplification technology has made transcription profiling of such small samples feasible.
TargetAmp aRNA kits utilises a significantly improved 'Eberwine-type' aRNA amplification protocol, that generates microgram quantities of amplified antisense RNA from picogram amounts of total RNA. This represents at least 5,000,000-fold amplification of the polyadenylated component of the original total RNA, making microarray analysis of single cells possible.
The aRNA produced can be labeled with biotin or fluorescent dyes, and performs well on multiple microarray.
