Takara Bio's subsidiary Clontech Laboratories has released the SMARTer Universal Low Input RNA Kit for sequencing.
The kit, which extends the company's next generation sequencing (NGS) solutions, includes low input samples of compromised RNA and combines the patented Switching Mechanism at 5' End of RNA Template (SMART) technology for ds cDNA synthesis with random priming.
The SMART technology is expected to facilitate transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq) from degraded total RNA samples acquired via common sample preparation techniques such as formaldehyde fixed paraffin embedded tissue (FFPE) and laser capture microscopy (LCM).
Clontech Laboratories general manager Carol Lou said the company has already pushed the limits of RNA-Seq down to the single cell level with the SMARTer Ultra Low RNA Kit for Illumina Sequencing.
"Today, we are expanding the applications of SMART technology to include cDNA synthesis from samples that contain degraded RNA (e.g. FFPE or LCM samples) or non-polyadenylated RNA. We expect the SMARTer Universal Low Input RNA Kit for Sequencing to be a welcome addition to RNA-Seq research," Lou added.
In addition, the company is planning to further expand the utility of the SMARTer kits for NGS by combining them with other key technologies including multiplex library preparation.
