Cellecta, Inc. Launches Driver-Map™ Human Genome-Wide Gene Expression Profiling Kit for 19,000 Human Genes

Targeted RNA Expression Profiling Assay Combines the Specificity and Ease-of-Use of RT-PCR with the Ultra-Sensitivity and Throughput of Next-Generation Sequencing

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Cellecta, Inc.

Mar 29, 2017, 08:30 ET

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., March 29, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Cellecta, Inc. today announced the launch of the Driver-Map™ Human Genome-Wide Gene Expression Profiling kit, a targeted RNA expression profiling assay designed to easily provide a molecular snapshot of all known 19,000 human protein-coding genes from complex samples starting from as little as 10 pg of total RNA.

The Driver-Map(TM) assay kit includes a complete set of gene-specific and PCR-NGS primers, buffers, spike-in ERCC and positive control RNAs as well as all other reagents required to profile 24 samples and prepare them for digital expression profiling using an Illumina(R) NGS system.

The Driver-Map(TM) assay provides up to 100x greater sensitivity than RNA-Seq allowing for a higher resolution view of the low-and medium-abundant genes in the sample.

The multiplex RT-PCR-based, followed by next-generation sequencing (NGS) method used in the Driver-Map Expression Profiling kit allows researchers access to the specially designed and experimentally validated gene-specific primer pairs to run samples in their own laboratories. This enables them to generate data that is more sensitive and easier to analyze when compared to conventional genome-wide expression profiling approaches such as RNA-Seq and microarray platforms.

"The simple, robust Driver-Map assay is ideal for use in characterization of complex biological samples," said Alex Chenchik, Ph.D., president and chief scientific officer of Cellecta. "Some novel applications for this gold-standard RT-PCR technology include biomarker discovery with whole blood without a globin or rRNA depletion step, detection of circulating tumor cells (CTC) in whole blood without previous CTC enrichment, high sensitivity profiling of tumor, stromal and infiltrating immune cell types from a complex tumor microenvironment, and expression profiling of patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models without interference from mouse background cells."

The Driver-Map™ Expression Profiling assay is highly reproducible, even starting with minimal amounts of RNA sample. Noteworthy features of this assay include:

Selective amplification of 19,000 annotated human transcripts using RT-PCR directly from total RNA--requiring no previous rRNA purification, globin depletion or polyA enrichment steps. This results in less complex, more reproducible protocols, a streamlined workflow, simplified data analysis and greater sensitivity.
Experimentally validated GCA-rich primers comprise an optimal genome-wide primer set that reliably and specifically measures mRNAs without background from other RNAs. This allows for a more comprehensive view of the spectrum of gene regulation, and detection of low-, medium-, as well as highly abundant transcripts in a single multiplex reaction. The resulting 100,000-fold dynamic range represents up to 100-fold greater sensitivity than RNA-Seq or microarrays.
Built-in, internal ERCC control RNAs compensate for batch effects and other technical variation, resulting in improved RNA quality control and more reliable data.

The Driver-Map™ assay kit includes a complete set of gene-specific and PCR-NGS primers, buffers, spike-in ERCC and positive control RNAs as well as all other reagents required to profile 24 samples and prepare them for digital expression profiling using NGS on an Illumina sequencing platform. NGS reagents are not included in the Driver-Map assay kit.

The Driver-Map™ Human Genome-Wide Gene Expression Profiling kit (Catalog # DM-hgw) is available now. For more information, please visit www.driver-map.com

About Cellecta:

Cellecta, Inc., a trusted provider of genomic products and services, is an industry leader in RNAi and CRISPR technologies for the discovery and characterization of novel therapeutic targets, and genetic profiling for biomarker discovery. Numerous scientific papers have been published citing Cellecta's functional genomics portfolio offering gene knockout and knockdown screens, custom and genome-wide RNAi and CRISPR libraries, cell engineering, RNAi and CRISPR construct services, and mutation and expression profiling of disease samples.

Cellecta, Inc. is headquartered in Mountain View, California. Further information about the company and its functional genomic products and services may be found online at www.cellecta.com

Cellecta, Inc.
Paul Diehl, 650-938-4050
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SOURCE Cellecta, Inc.