Takara Bio USA, Inc. announces the use of the SMARTer™ ICELL8® Single-Cell System in clinical studies

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Jan. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Takara Bio USA, Inc. (TBUSA, formerly Clontech Laboratories, Inc.), a wholly owned subsidiary of Takara Bio Inc., is proud to announce that City of Hope has recently procured a SMARTer ICELL8 Single-Cell System to perform high-level studies involving high-throughput single-cell RNA-seq applications. This automated system provides a proven platform for unbiased isolation, evaluation, and selection of over a thousand single cells for downstream analyses, including next-generation sequencing (NGS), backed by recent citations in the literature.

Single-cell RNA-seq has seen many advancements involving automation processes in recent years. While most of these technologies have focused primarily on increasing the number of cells processed, they have not been able to meet the needs of researchers seeking to generate data from preselected single cells. The SMARTer ICELL8 Single-Cell System is an automation platform that enables this work, capable of processing up to eight different samples in parallel and facilitating the analysis of over a thousand single cells or nuclei, regardless of size or shape.

The SMARTer ICELL8 instrument is part of an incredibly flexible system that enables scientists to conduct innovative research and adapt to a wide range of experimental setups. Recently, Professor Nicholas Navin (University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center) examined the benefits of the SMARTer ICELL8 system, publishing his studies in Nature Communications which detail a high-throughput 3' single-nucleus RNA sequencing approach for revealing transcriptional diversity in breast cancer cells. Upon learning of these results, City of Hope became interested in using the system to move forward with their own sensitive, single-cell studies.

"Takara Bio is dedicated to doing good science that has a positive impact on human health.  We strive to make products that enable researchers to deepen their understanding of relevant samples. The SMARTer ICELL8 system provides an enhanced ability to process large numbers of single cells with a high level of confidence and control," said Carol Lou, President of Takara Bio USA, Inc. "We're thrilled to be able to offer a platform that enables such precise, delicate work while easing the burden on the researcher."

"Flash frozen clinical samples represent a potentially powerful resource for clinical research," said Andrew Farmer, Vice President of Research and Development at TBUSA. "While the freezing process tends to disrupt cell membranes, nuclear membranes tend to remain intact. A system that can process nuclei samples, while also excluding unwanted cells, dead cells, and cell debris from further analysis, is thus a powerful tool for these clinical studies. In this manner, the SMARTer ICELL8 system is an important asset that allows the user to have more control over each experiment and to be more confident in the resulting data."

About Takara Bio USA, Inc.

Takara Bio USA, Inc. (TBUSA, formerly Clontech Laboratories, Inc.), a wholly owned subsidiary of Takara Bio Inc., develops, manufactures, and distributes a wide range of kits, reagents, and instruments for life science research under the Takara, Clontech, and Cellartis brands. Key products include SMARTer® NGS kits; SMARTer™ and SmartChip™ automation systems; high-performance qPCR and PCR reagents (including Takara Ex Taq, Takara LA Taq, Titanium®, and Advantage® enzymes); Cellartis® stem cell services, culture systems, cell lines, and reagents; the innovative In-Fusion® cloning system; Guide-it™ gene editing tools; Tet-based inducible gene expression systems; Capturem™ protein purification solutions; and Living Colors® fluorescent proteins. These and other products support applications including studies of gene regulation and function by a variety of methods including NGS; analyses of protein interaction, localization, and activity; drug discovery research and toxicity testing; development of clinical diagnostic assays; plant and food research; and stem cell research. For more information, visit takarabio.com.

About Takara Bio Inc.

Takara Bio Inc. is an innovative biotechnology company based in Shiga, Japan. As a world leader in biotechnology research and development, Takara Bio was the first company to market PCR technology in Japan and is also the developer of the RetroNectin® reagent, which is used as a world standard in gene therapy protocols. In addition to providing research reagents and equipment to the life science research market, Takara Bio has active research and product development activities in the fields of gene and cell-based therapy and agricultural biotechnology; and is committed to preventing disease and improving the quality of life for all people through the use of biotechnology. Through strategic alliances with other industry leaders, Takara Bio aims to extend its reach around the world. More information is available at takara-bio.com.

SOURCE Takara Bio USA, Inc.

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