RNA sequencing, or RNA-Seq, is widely utilized to study the complete set of RNA molecules (the transcriptome) expressed in an organism, tissue, or cell population. This approach is contributing to new insights into the molecular mechanisms behind the development and progression of different diseases.
Service overview
The end goal of transcriptomic analysis is to understand how cells change their physiological gene expression in response to stimuli. The method to elicit the role of the transcriptome in this process is composed of several steps:
- RNA extraction: total RNA is extracted from cells by phenol-chloroform or commercially available silica spin column kits
- RNA-Seq library preparation: the RNA is converted into a cDNA library. This is composed of cloned DNA sequences that are complementary to the original RNA molecules extracted.
-
Sequencing: the cDNA libraries are then submitted for high-throughput sequencing.
- Data analysis: RNA-Seq analysis is used to identify the differentially expressed genes to infer their biological meaning.
Technical applications
- Gene expression analysis
- Expression of alternative splice isoforms
- Post-transcriptional modifications
- Gene fusion or mutations and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)
Delivery time: 10 to 12 weeks
Service description and outcomes
- Pre-service consultation to establish your experimental design
- Input material: flash-frozen cell pellets or tissues
- RNA extraction and library preparation
- NGS sequencing
- Bioinformatic analysis