New Platform Detects MicroRNA Directly in Serum and Plasma

Biotech and other life science researchers will benefit from the introduction of a novel microRNA (miRNA) detection platform.

MicroRNAs are a class of about 20 nucleotides-long RNA fragments that block gene expression by attaching to molecules of messenger RNA (mRNA) in a fashion that prevents them from transmitting the protein synthesizing instructions they had received from the DNA.

The biotechnology company SomaGenics (Santa Cruz, CA, USA) has announced the launch of its novel miR-ID platform and assays for detecting miRNA using a circularization-based RT-qPCR method.

The miR-ID platform is highly sensitive, uses single-dye detection, and can discriminate miRNA isoforms with single nucleotide differences at any position along the molecule. The technology works well with all sample sources, including total RNA, cell lysates, and tissue lysates.

"The miR-ID miRNA detection platform is highly sensitive and provides much better sequence discrimination than leading competitors," said Brian Johnston, CEO of SomaGenics. "By using unmodified DNA primers, single-dye detection (SYBR green), and no specialized probes miR-ID helps keep costs low and allows for the rapid development of assays for miRNAs of interest."

In addition to applications with purified RNA samples, miR-ID has been incorporated into SomaGenics' miR-Direct technology for the direct quantification of microRNA from plasma or serum. miR-Direct utilizes solution-phase hybridization to capture probes, greatly improving the detection of low-abundance miRNAs over solid-state capture methods. This step allows concentration of target miRNAs and washing miRNAs to remove qPCR inhibitors, such as heparin, from plasma. By using a capture probe, miR-Direct eliminates the need for total RNA isolation, the most problematic and bias-prone step in currently available miRNA detection kits.

The miR-Direct/ID technology was introduced at the 11th Annual Meeting of the Oligonucleotide Therapeutics Society, which was held October 11-14, 2015, in Leiden, the Netherlands.

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