Next Generation Transcriptome Sequencing RNA seq

VERTIS specialises in Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) with a specific focus on transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq). The company has developed state-of-the-art technologies for transcriptome analysis and is able to offer innovative and flexible solutions for a wide variety of gene discovery projects.

In particular, the company has 10 years of experience in the isolation of high quality RNA from valuable and challenging starting materials. Various well tested protocols are available for:

• Isolation of total RNA from a wide variety of starting materials (animals, plants, algae, fungi, protists, bacteria, biopsies)
• Isolation of small non-coding RNA, especially miRNA
• RNA Isolation from environmental samples (e.g. soil, stuhl, sea water, glacial ice, etc.)

Transcriptome Analysis Services
Techniques have been developed that enable reliable synthesis of cDNA in excellent quality from the different RNA species in order to analyse the world of RNA, starting from non-coding RNA (sncRNA, miRNA, piwiRNA, etc) through to full-length coding messenger RNA (mRNA) from eukaryotic and from prokaryotic organisms. The cDNA that is prepared by Vertis is exclusively strand-specific and for that reason it preserves the information in relation to the strandedness of the transcripts. The methods employed for cDNA synthesis are completely in accordance with the requirements of the new ultra- high-throughput sequencing technologies.

Special Features of the VERTIS RNA-seq Service:

• Whole transcriptome analysis: complete coverage of the transcriptomes
• Digital gene expression (DEG) – measures the expression level of all genes in a given sample
• Genome-wide identification of transcription start sites (TSSs)
• Physical normalisation of cDNA for ultra-deep sequencing and detection of very rare transcripts
• Bacterial transcriptomics: we are pioneers in the analysis of bacterial transcriptomes (see Sharma CM et al. 2010, The primary transcriptome of the major human pathogen Helicobacter pylori. Nature 464:250-255)
• Mixed samples – quantify mixed populations from eu- and pro-karyotic RNA species e.g. parallel RNA-seq analysis of host-pathogen interaction
• miRNA sequencing: VERTIS was the first commercial provider to offer cloning and NGS analysis of microRNA (see Berezikov E et al. 2006, Diversity of microRNAs in human and chimpanzee brain. Nature Genetics 38:1375-1377)
• Parallel Analysis of RNA Ends (PARE) – for high-throughput identification of microRNA (miRNA) targets according to the protocol describe by German et al. 2009 (NATURE PROTOCOLS, VOL.4 NO.3)
• Single cell transcriptomics – analysis of whole tanscriptomes in single cell resolution

Next-generation Sequencing (NGS) Service
Due to its close collaboration with various partners Vertis has the capacity to utilise all the newest developments of NGS platforms like GS FLX+ Roche/454 Life Sciences, Illumina HiSeq2000 or SOLiD5500.

To find out more about Next Generation Transcriptome Sequencing (RNA-seq) please contact us directly.