RNA kits for next generation sequencing workflow

AMSBIO small RNA and mRNA sample library construction kits have been designed to enable fast and cost-effective Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS).

As a disruptive technology, NGS is rapidly changing the landscape of biomarker research, clinical diagnostics, and drug development. NGS technologies include a number of methods that are grouped broadly as template preparation, sequencing and imaging, and data analysis. The unique combination of specific protocols distinguishes one technology from another and determines the type of data produced from each platform. However, the basic sample process requirements, so called library construction, are shared among all of the technology platforms. 

AMSBIO's sample library construction kits reduce NGS workflow complexity, shorten sample library preparation time and labour, and minimise errors by eliminating extra steps and optimising the experiment protocol. With input RNA requirement as low as 0.5ng, AMSBIO kits can be used for the sample preparation from rare and difficult to obtain sources, such as the pathological samples. They can also be used for the situations where the samples are degraded as with formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissue samples.

AMSBIO kits are designed to enable you to query thousands of small RNA sequences with unprecedented sensitivity and dynamic range for both small RNA discovery and profiling applications. In addition the kits can be used to find novel microRNAs, characterize variation such as isomirs with single-base resolution, and analyse the differential expression of all small RNAs in any sample without prior assumptions. Supplied in a convenient, easy-to-use all-in-one format - AMSBIO sample library construction kits are also proven to quickly generate full sequence from any poly-A tailed RNA with the simple and cost-effective RNA Sample Preparation kit to analyse novel transcripts, novel isoforms, alternative splice sites, rare transcripts, and cSNPs in a single experiment. 

Quantitative alternative to the scratch assay

New independent research demonstrates that the Oris Cell Migration Assay presents a superior quantitative, high throughput alternative to the scratch assay.

Cell migration is integral to many physiological processes, including embryonic development, tissue regeneration, and wound healing. One assay commonly used to study cell migration is the scratch assay creating a cell-free gap, or 'scratch', on a confluent cell monolayer. Whilst this method is popular, the inherent variability in how scratches are produced and physical damage to cells make it difficult to obtain quantitative and statistically valid measurements of cell migration. Furthermore it has been demonstrated that the "scratch" will damage any underlying extracellular matrix (ECM).

Animal-free preparation of human serum albumin

AMSBIO has announced the launch of ecoHSA - an animal-free preparation of the human albumin gene produced in the seeds of Asian Rice (Oryza sativa).

Commercial human albumin proteins extracted from plasma have multiple and invaluable uses in cell culture work. However, existing and new regulations now discourage the use of animal components, even in early research studies. In additional human or animal derived albumin proteins, even those produced in vitro using insect or mammalian cultures, suffer from variable performance due to low yields and/or production complexities. Now the need for a defined, consistent and animal-free HSA is more important than ever.

Building on recent advances in seed protein production technologies to turn the rice endosperm into an optimal system for expressing recombinant proteins, ecoHSA offers significant advantages over traditional albumins. ecoHSA™eliminates risk of animal or viral infectious agents in cell cultures and helps comply with FDA recommendations for animal-free components. Extensively tested in multiple functional studies, ecoHSA has been proven to be similar in structure and biochemical function to native HSA in all tests performed. Furthermore rigorous standards and procedures in the manufacturing process of ecoHSA ensure minimal batch-to-batch variability.

In tests - ecoHSA has been shown to improve the health of cells by acting as a fatty acid carrier and hydrophobic moiety scavenger. In addition ecoHSA extends the life of cell cultures by scavenging toxins as well as stabilizing membrane proteins and maintaining oncotic pressure thereby providing better cultures and results.

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Highly efficient, reproducible non-cytotoxic transfection reagent

GenePORTER Gold from AMSBIO is a new highly efficient and reproducible lipid-based reagent for effective transfection of a wide variety of cell lines.

Molecular target delivery faces many barriers, from crossing the cell type-specific extracellular membrane, to cytoplasmic degradation and translocation across the nuclear membrane. To be effective, the transfection reagent/DNA complexes must overcome all of these challenges whilst minimizing cytotoxicity.

Traditionally the most efficient delivery methods have also been the most cytotoxic. Using Advanced Carrier Enhancement technology, a nuclear targeting mechanism that maximizes transfection and transgene expression levels while still maintaining high cell viability, GenePORTER Gold has been able to address this limitation.

Based on generations of proven cationic lipid formulations with more than 850 citations to date, GenePORTER Gold uniquely combines consistent delivery and reliability with the lowest reported cytotoxicity of commercially available transfection reagents. The GenePORTER Gold protocol has been optimized to provide simple, same-day transfection making it ideal for high throughput or large scale applications where the need for consistent results is highly desirable.

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Controls for PCR, RNA microarray and antibody array studies

The AMSBIO range of Universal Reference Products (RNA, cDNA and Protein Lysate) has been expanded to include standards for studies involving humans as well as for animal species including monkey, dog, mouse, rat, and chicken. These products provide ideal controls for high throughput PCR, RNA microarray and antibody array studies.

All AMSBIO Universal Reference Products are derived from very diverse tissue sets (from both male and female donors), and manufactured on an industrial scale, to ensure the broadest coverage of genes and to minimize the lot-to-lot variation.

Universal RNA from AMSBIO is total RNA isolated from sources, by modified guanidine thiocyanate techniques. Universal RNA can be used as controls for optimizing and trobleshooting single and two colour microarray studies. Universal cDNA is prepared by reverse transcribing AMSBIO's Universal RNA by random hexamer or oligo dT primer. Total RNA is isolated by modified guanidine thiocyanate techniques. Universal cDNA from AMSBIO can be used as controls for real time PCR and regular PCR, and also as gene pools for cloning genes. Universal Protein Lysate from AMSBIO is total protein isolated from whole tissue sources. Universal Protein Lysate can be used as controls for comparison of protein expression and antibody microarray studies.

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Kits for accurate and reproducible mRNA amplification

ExpressArt mRNA Amplification Kits from AMSBIO offer an elegant technological solution for qRT-PCR and gene expression array studies that overcomes the limitations of sample quality and quantity. ExpressArt technology allows reproducible and precise analysis of challenging samples including Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE), laser captured micro-dissections, needle biopsies, and circulating tumor cells.

Based on a unique non-Eberwine method using patented TRinucleotide primers and reagents - ExpressArt minimizes loss of sequence associated with two round amplification procedures and eliminates 3' bias in amplified products. The resultant RNA produces accurate data on differential expression of low copy number genes that fail to give sufficient signal intensities using alternative methods, allowing direct comparison of data from a wide range of input sample sizes. In addition using this exclusive primer technology - ExpressArt is able to amplify severely degraded RNA sequences enabling accurate analysis of RNA with extremely poor RIN values.

An optimized ExpressArt kit is available that allows specific amplification of bacterial mRNA from any species without the need for additional procedures to deplete ribosome RNA. Together with amino-allyl labeling modules and exclusive reagents for enhancing RNA isolations from very small and FFPE samples, ExpressArt provides solutions to problems no other amplification technology has overcome.

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Kits for improved nucleic acid recovery from FFPE samples

AMSBIO has announced new kits for the isolation of high quality RNA from Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE) tissues and LCM samples that can be applied both to qRT-PCR and a variety of microarray platforms.

When working with stored materials, researchers often need to isolate RNA from samples that have been stored as FFPE tissue blocks. These FFPE tissues are a valuable source of information for retrospective research. Although the tissue structure of FFPE samples will have been maintained for histological analysis, damage to the nucleic acid may have occurred through the fixation, embedding, and storage processes impeding measurements of gene expression levels. The degree of RNA fragmentation that typically has already occurred in FFPE tissues cannot be reversed, so researchers are faced with the challenge of optimizing RNA gene expression analysis protocols when working with these samples.

High purity reagents for glycobiology and glycoanalysis

Specialist in high purity reagents for glycobiology and glycoanalysis - AMSBIO - has announced a number of new and unique kits for proteoglycan research.

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are polysaccharides consisting of repeated dimers. All but hyaluronic acid (HA) possess sulfate bases, and exist in living organisms in the form of proteoglycans. Sulfated GAGs play important roles in the functions of a number of tissues.

Optimised E.coli strain expresses insoluble proteins in soluble form

AMSBIO has announced Solu BL21 Competent E. coli, a significantly improved BL21 host strain for soluble mammalian protein expression.

Using a directed evolution approach, a mutant strain of BL21(DE3) E. coli has been developed that can produce soluble protein in the majority of cases where expression in the parent BL21(DE3) yielded no detectable soluble product.