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  • BCR repertoire profiling from human samples (bulk)
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Home › Learning centers › Next-generation sequencing › Technical notes › Immune profiling › TCR repertoire profiling from human samples (bulk)

Technical notes

  • Single-cell RNA- and DNA-seq
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  • Immune profiling
    • BCR repertoire profiling from human samples (bulk)
    • Improved TCR repertoire profiling from human samples (bulk)
    • TCR repertoire profiling from human samples (single cells)
    • TCR repertoire profiling from human samples (bulk)
    • TCR repertoire profiling from mouse samples (bulk)
    • BCR repertoire profiling from mouse samples (bulk)
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Tech Note

A SMARTer approach to T-cell receptor profiling

  • Library amplification without multiplex PCR
    SMART technology and semi-nested PCR approach allow for unbiased amplification of full-length TCR variable sequences
  • Consistent performance across a range of input amounts
    Comparable sequencing results obtained for 10 ng, 100 ng, and 1,000 ng of input RNA
  • Remarkable sensitivity and reproducibility
    Clonotype-specific sequences present at a concentration of 0.1% are detectable above background

Here we present the SMARTer Human TCR a/b Profiling Kit (Takara Bio, Cat. Nos. 635014, 635015, 635016), a high-throughput method for TCR mRNA profiling that leverages SMART (Switching Mechanism at the 5′ end of RNA Template) technology and semi-nested PCR to fully capture and amplify variable regions of TCR-α and TCR-β subunits and prepare libraries for sequencing on Illumina platforms. The unparalleled sensitivity afforded by this approach allows for the detection of low-abundance TCR variants from small sample inputs of human peripheral blood RNA or purified human T cells, and the avoidance of multiplex PCR minimizes the likelihood of sample misrepresentation due to amplification biases. The ability to easily and reliably obtain comprehensive portraits of human T-cell repertoires will accelerate the fulfillment of basic and applied research objectives and could provide a basis for the development of novel clinical diagnostic solutions.

Introduction Results Summary Methods References

Introduction  

Background

What are T-cell receptors?

In humans and closely related species, cellular immunity is mediated by T cells (or T lymphocytes), which participate directly in the detection and neutralization of pathogenic threats. Essential to T-cell function are highly specialized extracellular receptors (T-cell receptors or TCRs) that selectively bind specific antigens displayed by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules on the surface of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) (Figure 1, Panel A). Antigen recognition by TCRs activates T cells, causing them to proliferate rapidly and mount immune responses through the release of cytokines.

Given the relative specificity of TCR-antigen interactions, a tremendous diversity of TCRs are required to recognize the wide assortment of pathogenic agents one might encounter. To this end, the adaptive immune system has evolved a system for somatic diversification of TCRs that is unrivaled in all of biology. The vast majority of TCRs are heterodimers composed of two distinct subunit chains (α- and β-), which both contain variable domains and, in humans, are encoded by single-copy genes. The term "clonotype" is typically used to refer either to a particular TCR variant (TCR-α or TCR-β subunit) or to a particular pairing of TCR subunit variants (TCR-α + TCR-β) shared among a clonal population of T cells. TCR diversity is generated during the early stages of T-cell development. T-cell progenitors are derived from hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in the thymus, and as these cells divide, extensive recombination occurs between the V- and J-segments, and the V-, D-, and J-segments, in the TCR-α and TCR-β genes, respectively, via a mechanism that also incorporates and deletes additional nucleotides (Figure 1, Panel B). Ultimately, this process—commonly referred to as "V(D)J recombination"—yields a population of T cells with sufficient TCR diversity to collectively recognize any peptide imaginable. The region of TCR-β that spans the V-D and D-J junctions, known as "complementarity determining region 3" (CDR3), is unique to each TCR-β variant and is frequently used to quantify TCR diversity in high-throughput profiling experiments. Following somatic diversification, T cells that lack sufficient affinity for MHC molecules and those that recognize self-antigens are eliminated (positive and negative selection, respectively), yielding a functional T-cell repertoire.

T-cell receptor structure and V(D)J recombination

Figure 1. T-cell receptor structure and diversification. Panel A. A functional αβ TCR heterodimer consisting of α- and β-subunit chains. TCR α-subunit chains consist of "variable" (V), "joining" (J), and "constant" (C) segments depicted in magenta, blue, and green, respectively, while TCR β-subunit chains include these and an additional "diversity" (D) segment, depicted in orange. The CDR3 region of the TCR β-subunit is labeled. The TCR is depicted on the T-cell surface, bound to an antigen associated with an MHC molecule on the surface of an APC. Panel B. V(D)J recombination and post-transcriptional processing of a TCR β-subunit chain. The TCR β locus includes over 50 V segments (magenta), 2 D segments (orange), and 13 J segments (blue). During somatic diversification, at least one of each segment type is randomly selected and further variability is introduced through the incorporation and/or deletion of additional nucleotides (yellow). Splicing of TCR mRNA combines a subset of the respective segments (along with a constant region) into a continuous unit. TCR α-subunit chains are generated via analogous mechanisms.

The seemingly endless number of potential TCR clonotypes—estimates range from 106–107 (Six et al., 2013) to 1015–1020 unique clonotypes (Murphy et al. 2012; Laydon, Bangham, and Asquith 2015)—poses significant challenges for researchers seeking to characterize T-cell repertoires in the context of human development and disease, as extensive amounts of data must be obtained. While low-throughput approaches incorporating conventional cloning and Sanger sequencing and protein-based methods for identifying antigen-specific TCRs (e.g., tetramer assays) have yielded many important insights, the development of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies has dramatically expanded the prospects for this field of research.

Why do TCR profiling?

High-throughput TCR profiling experiments have already yielded fundamental insights regarding T-cell development and TCR repertoire diversity (Calis and Rosenberg 2014; Woodsworth, Castellarin, and Holt 2013). For example, these approaches have demonstrated that TCR variation does not determine T-cell fate (Wang et al. 2010) and that there is considerable overlap in the population at large for so-called "public TCRs" or "public clones", which occur much more frequently than would be expected by chance (Robins et al. 2010). A sampling of different populations has revealed that TCR repertoire diversity declines linearly with age and is significantly reduced in patients suffering from autoimmune diseases or cancer, relative to healthy individuals (Britanova et al. 2014; Sherwood et al. 2013; Klarenbeek et al. 2012).

In the clinic, TCR profiling has been used to analyze the recovery of the immune system in patients who have undergone hematopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCT), and to compare the efficacy of approaches aimed at accelerating this process (van Heijst et al. 2013). Looking to the future, high-throughput TCR profiling holds tremendous promise as both a diagnostic tool, and as a means for developing new therapeutics and treatment modalities (Calis and Rosenberg 2014; Woodsworth, Castellarin, and Holt 2013). For example, TCR repertoire analysis could be used to evaluate a candidate vaccine's capacity to trigger a protective immune response.

Sequencing approaches for TCR repertoire analysis

The vast majority of TCR-profiling experiments performed thus far have focused on capturing genomic DNA or mRNA sequences that correspond to the CDR3 region of the TCR-β subunit chain (Calis and Rosenberg 2014; Woodsworth, Castellarin, and Holt 2013). Given that the CDR3 region is thought to be unique to each TCR-β variant, sequence variation in this region has served as a useful proxy for overall T-cell repertoire diversity.

While sequencing genomic DNA may be preferable for certain TCR-profiling applications—including those that involve quantifying various T-cell subpopulations—this approach is not without its limitations, and methods that involve analyzing mRNA sequences carry several important advantages. TCR mRNA templates are likely to be more highly represented than DNA templates in any one T cell, such that mRNA sequencing approaches will afford greater sensitivity and allow for more comprehensive identification of unique TCR variants, including those that are present in a very small proportion of T cells. Another important benefit of sequencing mRNA rather than genomic DNA is that it specifically allows for the identification of expressed TCR sequences that have undergone splicing and post-transcriptional processing and are likely to yield functional proteins. DNA-based approaches, by contrast, do not identify TCR sequences in their translated forms, and will unavoidably yield many nonproductive sequences that are functionally irrelevant. For this reason, mRNA sequencing is the preferred option for researchers interested in exploring functional aspects of specific TCR variants. TCR profiling approaches that involve sequencing genomic DNA are also subject to significant technical limitations. Due to the lack of splicing, DNA-derived templates are considerably longer than their RNA counterparts, such that amplification of genomic DNA corresponding to TCR variable regions (including CDR3) requires multiplex PCR and is potentially susceptible to biases imposed by the various primer pairs. As demonstrated below, the relatively shorter length of TCR mRNA templates allows for simpler amplification schemes in which TCR-α and TCR-β variable regions are captured with single primer pairs, minimizing the potential for amplification biases and allowing for analysis of both subunit chains in the same experiment.

Experimental workflow

First-strand cDNA synthesis and template switching

This approach utilizes leukocyte RNA extracted from human peripheral blood or intact human T cells as starting material. First-strand cDNA synthesis is dT-primed (TCR dT Primer) and performed by the MMLV-derived SMARTScribe Reverse Transcriptase (RT), which adds nontemplated nucleotides upon reaching the 5′ end of each mRNA template (Figure 2, Panel A). The SMART-Seq v4 Oligonucleotide—enhanced with Locked Nucleic Acid (LNA) technology for increased sensitivity and specificity—then anneals to the nontemplated nucleotides, and serves as a template for the incorporation of an additional sequence of nucleotides to the first-strand cDNA by the RT (this is the template-switching step). This additional sequence—referred to as the "SMART sequence"—serves as a primer-annealing site for subsequent rounds of PCR, ensuring that only sequences from full-length cDNAs undergo amplification.

cDNA amplification and incorporation of Illumina adapters by semi-nested PCR

Following reverse transcription and extension, two rounds of PCR are performed in succession to amplify cDNA sequences corresponding to variable regions of TCR-α and/or TCR-β transcripts. The first PCR uses the first-strand cDNA as a template and includes a forward primer with complementarity to the SMART sequence (SMART Primer 1), and a reverse primer that is complementary to the constant (i.e. nonvariable) region of either TCR-α or TCR-β (TCRa/b Human Primer 1); both reverse primers may be included in a single reaction if analysis of both TCR subunit chains is desired. By priming from the SMART sequence and constant region, the first PCR specifically amplifies the entire variable region and a considerable portion of the constant region of TCR-α and/or TCR-β cDNA (Figure 2, Panel B).

The second PCR takes the product from the first PCR as a template, and uses semi-nested primers (TCR Primer 2 and TCRa/b Human Primer 2) to amplify the entire variable region and a portion of the constant region of TCR-α and/or TCR-β cDNA (once again, either or both TCR subunit chains may be amplified in a single reaction). Included in the forward and reverse primers are adapter and index sequences which are compatible with the Illumina sequencing platform (read 2 + i7 + P7 and read 1 + i5 + P5, respectively). Following post-PCR purification, size selection, and quality analysis, the library is ready for Illumina sequencing.

Library preparation workflow for SMARTer TCR profiling

Figure 2. Library preparation workflow and PCR strategy for TCR profiling using the SMARTer approach. Panel A. Reverse transcription and PCR amplification of TCR subunit mRNA sequences. First-strand cDNA synthesis is primed by the TCR dT Primer and performed by an MMLV-derived reverse transcriptase (RT). Upon reaching the 5′ end of each mRNA molecule, the RT adds nontemplated nucleotides to the first-strand cDNA. The SMART-Seq v4 Oligonucleotide contains a sequence that is complementary to the nontemplated nucleotides added by the RT and hybridizes to the first-strand cDNA. In the template-switching step, the RT uses the remainder of the SMART-Seq v4 Oligonucleotide as a template for the incorporation of an additional sequence on the end of the first-strand cDNA. Full-length variable regions of TCR cDNA are selectively amplified by PCR using primers that are complementary to the oligonucleotide-templated sequence (SMART Primer 1) and the constant region(s) of TCR-α and/or TCR-β subunits (TCR a/b Human Primer 1). A subsequent round of PCR is performed to further amplify variable regions of TCR-α and/or TCR-β subunits and incorporate adapter sequences, using TCR Primer 2 and TCR a/b Human Primer 2. Included in the primers are adapter and index sequences (read 2 + i7 + P7 and read 1 + i5 + P5, respectively) that are compatible with the Illumina sequencing platform. Following purification, size selection, and quality analysis, the TCR cDNA library is ready for sequencing. Panel B. Semi-nested PCR approach for amplification of TCR-α and/or TCR-β subunits. The primer pairs used for the first round of amplification capture the entire variable region(s) and most of the constant region(s) of TCR-α and/or TCR-β cDNA. The second round of amplification retains the entire variable region(s) of TCR-α and/or TCR-β cDNA, and a smaller portion of the constant region(s). The anticipated size of final TCR library cDNA (inserts + adapters) is ~700–800bp.

Library quality control and Illumina sequencing

Prior to sequencing, libraries are purified and size selected using Solid Phase Reversible Immobilization (SPRI) beads. To confirm the success of library amplification and purification, samples are run on a Fragment Analyzer or Bioanalyzer (Figure 3). The position and shape of electropherogram peaks vary depending on whether TCR-α and/or TCR-β sequence fragments are included in the library, the nature of the sample input, and the analysis method. Once the quality and size of each purified library have been confirmed, samples are sequenced on the Illumina platform using 300 bp paired-end reads, which fully capture the TCR sequence included in each cDNA molecule.

Electropherogram profiles of TCR sequencing libraries

Figure 3. Electropherogram profiles of TCR sequencing libraries. Libraries containing both TCR-α and TCR-β sequences were generated using 10 ng of RNA obtained from either a heterogeneous population of peripheral blood leukocytes or a Jurkat cell line consisting of a single T-cell clonotype. Electropherogram profiles of the final libraries were obtained on both an Advanced Analytical Fragment Analyzer and an Agilent 2100 Bioanalyzer. Peaks situated at the far left and right ends of each electropherogram correspond to DNA reference markers included in each analysis. Panel A. Typical Fragment Analyzer profile of sequencing library for TCR-α and TCR-β, obtained from peripheral blood leukocyte RNA. Panel B. Typical Bioanalyzer profile of sequencing library for TCR-α and TCR-β, obtained from peripheral blood leukocyte RNA (same library as Panel A). The library profiles from the Fragment Analyzer and the Bioanalyzer both show a broad peak between ~650–1150 bp and a maximal peak in the range of ~700–800 bp for the library obtained from peripheral blood leukocyte RNA. Panel C. Typical Fragment Analyzer profile of sequencing library for TCR-α and TCR-β, obtained from monoclonal Jurkat T-cell RNA. The Fragment Analyzer profile for the library obtained from Jurkat RNA shows distinct peaks at approximately 700 bp and 800 bp, which correspond to predicted sizes of TCR-β and TCR-α sequence fragments, respectively. Panel D. Typical Bioanalyzer profile of sequencing library for TCR-α and TCR-β, obtained from Jurkat T-cell RNA (same library as Panel C). The Bioanalyzer profile for the library obtained from Jurkat RNA shows a peak similar in shape and position to the peaks shown in Panel A and Panel B.

Results  

Cross-sample clonotype comparisons

The SMARTer Human TCR a/b Profiling Kit was used to process RNA extracted from replicate peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) samples obtained from eight blood cancer patients. Sequencing outputs for the 16 resulting cDNA libraries were analyzed using a computational immunology platform as reported in the Methods section below. One form of analysis involved determining the number of common TCR-α and TCR-β clonotypes shared between samples, based on sequences that mapped to the CDR3 regions of TCR-α or TCR-β. The results are depicted using a heat map, in which different tile colors correspond to Log10-transformed counts for the number of clonotypes shared between the indicated pairings (Figure 4). Not surprisingly, the greatest level of overlap is observed between replicate PBMC samples from the same patient. In contrast, the level of overlap is dramatically lower for PBMC samples from different patients. These results speak to both the reproducibility and sensitivity of the SMARTer approach, in that it generates similar TCR profile data for replicate samples, and markedly divergent TCR profile data for samples obtained from different patients.

Cross-sample clonotype comparisons

Figure 4. Heat map of cross-sample clonotype comparisons. The experimental protocol was performed on RNA extracted from replicate PBMC samples (R1, R2) obtained from eight blood cancer patients (P1–P8). Resulting sequencing reads were mapped to CDR3 regions of TCR-α or TCR-β to identify clonotypes present in each sample. For each pairwise comparison indicated by the labels along the bottom and right-hand sides of the heat map, the tile color indicates the Log10-transformed value for the number of clonotypes that are common to both samples. Dendrograms on both axes indicate relative similarities between samples.

Sequencing reads on target

To evaluate the performance of the kit for a range of input amounts, the SMARTer workflow was performed on three different amounts of peripheral blood RNA (10 ng, 100 ng, and 1,000 ng) and the resulting cDNA libraries were sequenced as above. Sequencing outputs were downsampled to either ~260,000 or ~275,000 reads, depending on the analysis method, and processed using an application provided by Illumina via the BaseSpace website, as reported in the Methods section, below. For each RNA sample amount analyzed, ≥70% of sequencing reads mapped to a CDR3 region in either TCR-α or TCR-β, with the 10-ng sample amount yielding the highest percentage of on-target reads (Figure 5, Panel A). These results demonstrate that the SMARTer approach can capture and amplify TCR sequences from total RNA with considerable specificity across a wide range of sample input amounts.

Correlation of clonotype count data for varying sample input amounts

Another form of analysis involved plotting counts of the 100 most highly represented clonotypes for varying sample input amounts. Comparison of clonotype count data for the 100 ng and 1,000 ng sample amounts yielded a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.80 and a Spearman coefficient of 0.80 (Figure 5, Panel B), a result that attests to the robustness of the SMARTer approach for input sample amounts that vary by at least one order of magnitude.

Sequencing reads on target and clonotype count data for SMARTer TCR profiling

Figure 5. Sequencing reads on target and correlation of clonotype count data for varying sample input amounts. Panel A. Percentages of sequencing reads that map to CDR3 regions in either TCR-α (blue) or TCR-β (purple) or that represent off-target reads (gray). The experimental protocol was performed on three different amounts of peripheral blood RNA: 10 ng, 100 ng, and 1,000 ng. Panel B. Correlation of clonotype count data for 100 ng input RNA vs. 1,000 ng input RNA. Pearson (R) and Spearman (ρ) correlation coefficients are included.

Visual representation of TCR-β clonotype distributions

The distribution of TCR clonotypes identified in the sequencing data can also be depicted visually using chord diagrams (Figure 6). Included here are chord diagrams representing the observed distributions of the indicated TCR-β Variable-Joining (V-J) segment combinations for each RNA input amount. Each arc (on the periphery of the diagram) represents a V or J segment and is scaled lengthwise in proportion to that segment's distribution in the dataset. Each chord (connecting the arcs) represents a set of clonotypes which include the indicated V-J combination and is weighted according to that set's distribution in the dataset. Comparison of the three diagrams suggests that the indicated clonotypes are identified at similar proportions for each RNA input amount.

TCR-beta clonotype distributions

Figure 6. Chord diagrams of TCR-β clonotype distributions observed for varying sample input amounts. Each chord diagram depicts the distribution of the indicated TCR-β Variable-Joining (V-J) segment combinations for the indicated RNA input amount. Each arc (on the periphery of each diagram) represents a V or J segment and is scaled lengthwise according to the relative proportion at which the segment is represented in the dataset. Each chord (connecting the arcs) represents a set of clonotypes which include the indicated V-J combination and is weighted according to the relative abundance of that combination in the dataset. Panel A. Chord diagram for 10 ng input of PBMC RNA. Panel B. Chord diagram for 100 ng input of PBMC RNA. Panel C. Chord diagram for 1,000 ng input of PBMC RNA.

Assessing the sensitivity and reproducibility of the SMARTer approach

In order to assess the sensitivity and reproducibility of the SMARTer approach, the protocol was performed in replicate on PBMC RNA samples spiked at varying concentrations (10%, 1%, 0.1%, 0.01%, and 0.001%) with RNA obtained from a homogenous population of Leukemic Jurkat T cells (TRAV8-4-TRAJ3, TRBV12-3-TRBJ1-2 clonotype). The number of TRBV12-3-TRBJ1-2-specific sequence reads obtained for each spiked sample was normalized by subtracting the number of corresponding reads obtained for negative control samples consisting of unspiked PBMC RNA. Following Log10 transformation, plotting of the data (spike-in dilution vs. normalized read count) and linear regression analysis revealed a statistically significant correlation (p = 3.93 x 10-10, R2 = 0.99) between the amount of spiked-in Jurkat RNA and the number of TRBV12-3-TRBJ1-2-specific sequence reads (Figure 7, Panel A). This result demonstrates that differences in the relative abundance of transcripts for a particular TCR clonotype are faithfully and reproducibly represented in sequencing libraries generated using the SMARTer approach. Comparison of the number of TRBV12-3-TRBJ1-2-specific sequence reads obtained for the control vs. spike-in samples suggests that added Jurkat RNA at a concentration of 0.1% is detectable above background in the sequencing output (p <0.005) at a depth of ~275,000 reads, evidence of the sensitivity afforded by the SMARTer approach (Figure 7, Panel B).

Sensitivity data for SMARTer TCR profiling

Amount of Jurkat RNA% spike-in (% Jurkat RNA in 10 ng PBMC RNA)# TRBV12-3-TRBJ1-2 clonotypes identifiedSignal: noiseTwo-tailed, Student's t-test (p value)p<0.005?p<0.001?
Replicate 1Replicate 2Ratio (x̄ spike-in/ x̄ control (0%))
0 0.000% 619 480 1.0000 - - -
100 fg 0.001% 649 488 1.0346 0.87498 False False
1 pg 0.010% 702 597 1.1820 0.36972 False False
10 pg 0.100% 1,695 1,673 3.0646 0.00382 True False
100 pg 1.000% 12,074 11,206 21.1829 0.00157 True False
1 ng 10.000% 62,395 63,006 114.1592 0.00003 True True

Figure 7. Assessing the sensitivity and reproducibility of the SMARTer approach. The experimental protocol was performed in replicate on PBMC RNA samples spiked at varying concentrations (10%, 1%, 0.1%, 0.01%, and 0.001%) with RNA obtained from a homogenous population of Leukemic Jurkat T cells (TRAV8-4-TRAJ3, TRBV12-3-TRBJ1-2 clonotype). Panel A. Correlation between concentration of spiked-in Jurkat RNA and number of TRBV12-3-TRBJ1-2-specific sequence reads. Numbers along the X-axis indicate serial-diluted concentrations of spiked-in Jurkat RNA (by mass): 1 = 10%; 2 = 1%; 3 = 0.1%; 4 = 0.01%; 5 = 0.001%. Count data for TRBV12-3-TRBJ1-2-specific sequence reads were normalized by subtracting the number of corresponding reads obtained for negative control samples consisting of unspiked PBMC RNA. Normalized count data were then Log10 transformed. Circles and triangles correspond to experimental replicates for each sample concentration. Results of linear regression analysis are indicated in the upper right region of the graph. Panel B. Count data, signal-to-noise ratios, and statistical analysis for TRBV12-3-TRBJ1-2-specific sequence reads obtained from spiked RNA samples. Signal-to-noise ratios were generated using the mean counts of TRBV12-3-TRBJ1-2-specific sequence reads for each pair of experimental replicates. Rows highlighted in yellow include concentrations of spiked-in Jurkat RNA for which statistically significant elevations in TRBV12-3-TRBJ1-2-specific sequence reads were detected relative to background counts observed for unspiked negative control RNA samples.

Summary  

Our SMARTer Human TCR a/b Profiling Kit provides a powerful solution for those seeking to elucidate the diversity of TCR-α and/or TCR-β subunits present in samples consisting of human leukocyte RNA or intact T cells. In contrast with profiling methods that involve the amplification of genomic DNA, our 5' RACE-based approach uses total RNA as input material. Starting from RNA allows for the capture of complete TCR V(D)J variable regions, the avoidance of multiplex PCR amplification strategies, and the detection of low-abundance TCR clonotypes. Sequencing data derived from TCR RNA may also yield worthwhile insights regarding the function of corresponding subunit proteins. The results presented here indicate that the SMARTer Human TCR a/b Profiling Kit generates data that is highly reproducible over a range of sample input amounts and consists largely of on-target reads. They also demonstrate that our method allows for the detection of TCR clonotypes present at proportions of 0.1% of total RNA at a relatively shallow read depth. On the basis of its reliability and elegance, our SMARTer approach to TCR profiling will help forward basic and applied research objectives involving the analysis of human immune repertoires.

Methods  

All sequencing libraries were generated using protocols and reagents included in the SMARTer Human TCR a/b Profiling Kit (Takara Bio, Cat. Nos. 635014, 635015, 635016).

Input material

Libraries included in the quality analysis (Figure 3) were generated from 10 ng of commercially available input RNA. Both Human Blood, Peripheral Leukocytes Total RNA (Takara Bio, Cat. No. 636592) and Total RNA - Human Tumor Cell Line: Jurkat (BioChain, Cat. No. R1255815-50) were used. For the cross-sample clonotype comparisons (Figure 4), libraries were generated from 5 ng–2 µg of RNA obtained from Conversant Biologics, Inc., which sourced the PBMC samples and extracted the RNA. Libraries included in the analyses of reads on target (Figure 5) and TCR-β clonotypes identified (Figure 6) were generated from 10 ng, 100 ng, and 1,000 ng of Human Blood, Peripheral Leukocytes Total RNA, respectively. Libraries included in the sensitivity and reproducibility assays (Figure 7) were generated from 10 ng of Human Blood, Peripheral Leukocytes Total RNA spiked with serial-diluted Total RNA - Human Tumor Cell Line: Jurkat at the indicated concentrations.

PCR parameters

As indicated in the SMARTer Human TCR a/b Profiling Kit user manual, all libraries were subject to two rounds of semi-nested PCR amplification. Libraries included in the quality analysis (Figure 3) and in the sensitivity and reproducibility assays (Figure 7) were amplified using 21 cycles for PCR 1, and 20 cycles for PCR 2. Libraries included in the cross-sample clonotype comparisons (Figure 4) were amplified using 20 cycles for PCR 1 and 15–20 cycles for PCR 2 (depending on the RNA input amount). For the analyses of reads on target (Figure 5) and TCR-β clonotypes identified (Figure 6), the following numbers of PCR cycles were used for each input amount:

  • 10 ng: 21 cycles for PCR 1, 20 cycles for PCR 2
  • 100 ng: 21 cycles for PCR 1, 15 cycles for PCR 2
  • 1,000 ng: 21 cycles for PCR 1, 12 cycles for PCR 2

For all experiments performed, mixtures of TCR-α- and TCR-β-specific primers were included in both PCR 1 and PCR 2 at a 2:1 ratio (TCR-α:TCR-β).

Library purification

Amplified libraries were purified using the Agencourt AMPure XP PCR purification kit (5-ml size: Beckman Coulter Item No. A63880; 60-ml size: Beckman Coulter Item No. A63881). Libraries validated on a Fragment Analyzer were subject to one double size selection, while libraries validated on a Bioanalyzer were subject to two double size selections. Beads were pelleted using a SMARTer-Seq Magnetic Separator - PCR Strip (Takara Bio, Cat. No. 635011).

Library validation

Library validation was performed using an Advanced Analytical Fragment Analyzer and the High Sensitivity NGS Fragment Analysis Kit (Advanced Analytical, Cat. No. DNF-474), or an Agilent 2100 Bioanalyzer and the DNA 1000 Kit (Agilent, Cat. No. 5067-1504). For validation on the Fragment Analyzer, purified libraries were diluted 1:5, and 1 µl of the diluted library was analyzed. For validation on the Bioanalyzer, 1 µl of purified, undiluted library was analyzed.

Illumina sequencing

Libraries were pooled to a final pool concentration of 4 nM. Pooled libraries were then diluted to a final concentration of 13.5 pM, including a 10% PhiX Control v3 (Illumina, Cat. No. FC-110-3001) spike-in. Libraries were sequenced on an Illumina MiSeq® sequencer using the 600-cycle MiSeq Reagent Kit v3 (Illumina, Cat. No. MS-102-3003) with paired-end, 2 x 300 base pair reads.

Data analysis

For the cross-sample clonotype comparisons (Figure 4), sequencing data were analyzed using the AbGenesis computational immunology platform, provided by Distributed Bio, Inc.: http://www.distributedbio.com/abgenesis.html. For other analyses, sequencing data were downsampled to either ~260,000 reads (Figure 5 and Figure 6) or ~275,000 reads (Figure 7) and analyzed using the MiXCR software package (Bolotin et al. 2015), hosted on BaseSpace, Illumina's cloud computing environment for next-generation sequencing: https://basespace.illumina.com/home/prep. Statistical analyses were performed using Excel (Microsoft).

References  

Bolotin, D. A. et al. MiXCR: software for comprehensive adaptive immunity profiling. Nat. Methods 12, 380–381 (2015).

Britanova, O. V et al. Age-related decrease in TCR repertoire diversity measured with deep and normalized sequence profiling. J. Immunol. 192, 2689–98 (2014).

Calis, J. J. A. & Rosenberg, B. R. Characterizing immune repertoires by high throughput sequencing: Strategies and applications. Trends Immunol. 35, 581–590 (2014).

van Heijst, J. W. J. et al. Quantitative assessment of T cell repertoire recovery after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Nat. Med. 19, 372-7 (2013).

Kenneth Murphy, Paul Travers, Mark Walport, Michael Ehrenstein, Claudia Mauri, Allan Mowat, A. S., Hsu, D. C., Murphy, K. M., Travers, P. & Walport, M. Janeway's Immunobiology. Garl. Sci. 7, (2008).

Klarenbeek, P. L. et al. Inflamed target tissue provides a specific niche for highly expanded T-cell clones in early human autoimmune disease. Ann. Rheum. Dis. 71, 1088–1093 (2012).

Laydon, D. J., Bangham, C. R. M. & Asquith, B. Estimating T-cell repertoire diversity: limitations of classical estimators and a new approach. Phil Trans R Soc B 370, 20140291- (2015).

Robins, H. S. et al. Overlap and effective size of the human CD8+ T cell receptor repertoire. Sci. Transl. Med. 2, 47ra64 (2010).

Sherwood, A. M. et al. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in colorectal tumors display a diversity of T cell receptor sequences that differ from the T cells in adjacent mucosal tissue. Cancer Immunol. Immunother. 62, 1453–1461 (2013).

Six, A. et al. The past, present, and future of immune repertoire biology - the rise of next-generation repertoire analysis. Front. Immunol. 4, (2013).

Wang, C. et al. High throughput sequencing reveals a complex pattern of dynamic interrelationships among human T cell subsets. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 107, 1518–23 (2010).

Woodsworth, D. J., Castellarin, M. & Holt, R. A. Sequence analysis of T-cell repertoires in health and disease. Genome Med 5, 98 (2013).

Related Products

Cat. # Product Size Price License Quantity Details
635014 SMARTer® Human TCR a/b Profiling Kit 12 Rxns USD $999.00

License Statement

ID Number  
275 SMART-Seq2 Technology. This product is sold under exclusive license from Ludwig Institute of Cancer Research, Ltd. and is covered by US Patent No. 10266894, Japanese Patent No. 6336080, and European Patent No. 3036336, and pending U.S. patent application and/or pending claims of foreign counterparts. For license information, please contact a Takara Bio USA, Inc. licensing representative by phone at 650.919.7320 or by e-mail at licensing@takarabio.com.

The SMARTer Human TCR a/b Profiling Kit enables users to analyze T-cell receptor (TCR) diversity from input RNA samples. This kit is designed to work with a range of RNA input amounts depending on the sample type, and has been shown to generate high-quality libraries from as little as 10 ng to 3 μg of total RNA obtained from peripheral blood leukocytes, or from 50 to 10,000 purified T cells. As the name suggests, the kit can be used to generate data for both alpha- and beta-chain diversity, either in the same experiment or separately.

This kit leverages SMART technology and employs a 5' RACE-like approach to capture complete V(D)J variable regions of TCR transcripts. Included in the kit are primers that incorporate Illumina-specific adaptor sequences during cDNA amplification. The protocol generates indexed libraries that are ready for sequencing on Illumina platforms.

Notice to purchaser

Our products are to be used for Research Use Only. They may not be used for any other purpose, including, but not limited to, use in humans, therapeutic or diagnostic use, or commercial use of any kind. Our products may not be transferred to third parties, resold, modified for resale, or used to manufacture commercial products or to provide a service to third parties without our prior written approval.

Documents Components You May Also Like Image Data

Back

Sequencing reads on target and correlation of clonotype count data for varying sample input amounts

Sequencing reads on target and correlation of clonotype count data for varying sample input amounts
Sequencing reads on target and correlation of clonotype count data for varying sample input amounts. Panel A. Percentages of sequencing reads that map to CDR3 regions in either TCR-α (blue) or TCR-β (purple) or that represent off-target reads (gray). The experimental protocol was performed on three different amounts of peripheral blood RNA: 10 ng, 100 ng, and 1,000 ng. Panel B. Correlation of clonotype count data for 100 ng input RNA vs. 1,000 ng input RNA. Pearson (R) and Spearman (ρ) correlation coefficients are included.

Back

Assessing the sensitivity and reproducibility of the SMARTer approach

Assessing the sensitivity and reproducibility of the SMARTer approach
Assessing the sensitivity and reproducibility of the SMARTer approach. The experimental protocol was performed in replicate on PBMC RNA samples spiked at varying concentrations (10%, 1%, 0.1%, 0.01%, and 0.001%) with RNA obtained from a homogenous population of Leukemic Jurkat T cells (TRAV8-4-TRAJ3, TRBV12-3-TRBJ1-2 clonotype). Panel A. Correlation between concentration of spiked-in Jurkat RNA and number of TRBV12-3-TRBJ1-2-specific sequence reads. Numbers along the X-axis indicate serial-diluted concentrations of spiked-in Jurkat RNA (by mass): 1 = 10%; 2 = 1%; 3 = 0.1%; 4 = 0.01%; 5 = 0.0.01. Count data for TRBV12-3-TRBJ1-2-specific sequence reads were normalized by subtracting the number of corresponding reads obtained for negative control samples consisting of unspiked PBMC RNA. Normalized count data were then Log<sub>10</sub> transformed. Circles and triangles correspond to experimental replicates for each sample concentration. Results of linear regression analysis are indicated in the upper right region of the graph. Panel B. Count data, signal-to-noise ratios, and statistical analysis for TRBV12-3-TRBJ1-2-specific sequence reads obtained from spiked RNA samples. Signal-to-noise ratios were generated using the mean counts of TRBV12-3-TRBJ1-2-specific sequence reads for each pair of experimental replicates. Rows highlighted in yellow include concentrations of spiked-in Jurkat RNA for which statistically significant elevations in TRBV12-3-TRBJ1-2-specific sequence reads were detected relative to background counts observed for unspiked negative control RNA samples.

Back

Library preparation workflow and PCR strategy for TCR profiling using the SMARTer approach

Library preparation workflow and PCR strategy for TCR profiling using the SMARTer approach
Library preparation workflow and PCR strategy for TCR profiling using the SMARTer approach. Panel A. Reverse transcription and PCR amplification of TCR subunit mRNA sequences. First-strand cDNA synthesis is primed by the TCR dT Primer and performed by an MMLV-derived reverse transcriptase (RT). Upon reaching the 5′ end of each mRNA molecule, the RT adds non-templated nucleotides to the first-strand cDNA. The SMART-Seq v4 Oligonucleotide contains a sequence that is complementary to the non-templated nucleotides added by the RT, and hybridizes to the first-strand cDNA. In the template-switching step, the RT uses the remainder of the SMART-Seq v4 Oligonucleotide as a template for the incorporation of an additional sequence on the end of the first-strand cDNA. Full-length variable regions of TCR cDNA are selectively amplified by PCR using primers that are complementary to the oligonucleotide-templated sequence (SMART Primer 1) and the constant region(s) of TCR-α and/or TCR-β subunits (TCR a/b Human Primer 1). A subsequent round of PCR is performed to further amplify variable regions of TCR-α and/or TCR-β subunits and incorporate adapter sequences, using TCR Primer 2 and TCR a/b Human Primer 2. Included in the primers are adapter and index sequences (read 2 + i7 + P7 and read 1 + i5 + P5, respectively) that are compatible with the Illumina sequencing platform. Following purification, size selection, and quality analysis, the TCR cDNA library is ready for sequencing. Panel B. Semi-nested PCR approach for amplification of TCR-α and/or TCR-β subunits. The primer pairs used for the first round of amplification capture the entire variable region(s) and most of the constant region(s) of TCR-α and/or TCR-β cDNA. The second round of amplification retains the entire variable region(s) of TCR-α and/or TCR-β cDNA, and a smaller portion of the constant region(s). The anticipated size of final TCR library cDNA (inserts + adapters) is ~700–800bp.
635015 SMARTer® Human TCR a/b Profiling Kit 48 Rxns USD $3195.00

License Statement

ID Number  
275 SMART-Seq2 Technology. This product is sold under exclusive license from Ludwig Institute of Cancer Research, Ltd. and is covered by US Patent No. 10266894, Japanese Patent No. 6336080, and European Patent No. 3036336, and pending U.S. patent application and/or pending claims of foreign counterparts. For license information, please contact a Takara Bio USA, Inc. licensing representative by phone at 650.919.7320 or by e-mail at licensing@takarabio.com.

The SMARTer Human TCR a/b Profiling Kit enables users to analyze T-cell receptor (TCR) diversity from input RNA samples. This kit is designed to work with a range of RNA input amounts depending on the sample type, and has been shown to generate high-quality libraries from as little as 10 ng to 3 μg of total RNA obtained from peripheral blood leukocytes, or from 50 to 10,000 purified T cells. As the name suggests, the kit can be used to generate data for both alpha- and beta-chain diversity, either in the same experiment or separately.

This kit leverages SMART technology and employs a 5' RACE-like approach to capture complete V(D)J variable regions of TCR transcripts. Included in the kit are primers that incorporate Illumina-specific adaptor sequences during cDNA amplification. The protocol generates indexed libraries that are ready for sequencing on Illumina platforms.

Notice to purchaser

Our products are to be used for Research Use Only. They may not be used for any other purpose, including, but not limited to, use in humans, therapeutic or diagnostic use, or commercial use of any kind. Our products may not be transferred to third parties, resold, modified for resale, or used to manufacture commercial products or to provide a service to third parties without our prior written approval.

Documents Components You May Also Like Image Data

Back

Sequencing reads on target and correlation of clonotype count data for varying sample input amounts

Sequencing reads on target and correlation of clonotype count data for varying sample input amounts
Sequencing reads on target and correlation of clonotype count data for varying sample input amounts. Panel A. Percentages of sequencing reads that map to CDR3 regions in either TCR-α (blue) or TCR-β (purple) or that represent off-target reads (gray). The experimental protocol was performed on three different amounts of peripheral blood RNA: 10 ng, 100 ng, and 1,000 ng. Panel B. Correlation of clonotype count data for 100 ng input RNA vs. 1,000 ng input RNA. Pearson (R) and Spearman (ρ) correlation coefficients are included.

Back

Assessing the sensitivity and reproducibility of the SMARTer approach

Assessing the sensitivity and reproducibility of the SMARTer approach
Assessing the sensitivity and reproducibility of the SMARTer approach. The experimental protocol was performed in replicate on PBMC RNA samples spiked at varying concentrations (10%, 1%, 0.1%, 0.01%, and 0.001%) with RNA obtained from a homogenous population of Leukemic Jurkat T cells (TRAV8-4-TRAJ3, TRBV12-3-TRBJ1-2 clonotype). Panel A. Correlation between concentration of spiked-in Jurkat RNA and number of TRBV12-3-TRBJ1-2-specific sequence reads. Numbers along the X-axis indicate serial-diluted concentrations of spiked-in Jurkat RNA (by mass): 1 = 10%; 2 = 1%; 3 = 0.1%; 4 = 0.01%; 5 = 0.0.01. Count data for TRBV12-3-TRBJ1-2-specific sequence reads were normalized by subtracting the number of corresponding reads obtained for negative control samples consisting of unspiked PBMC RNA. Normalized count data were then Log<sub>10</sub> transformed. Circles and triangles correspond to experimental replicates for each sample concentration. Results of linear regression analysis are indicated in the upper right region of the graph. Panel B. Count data, signal-to-noise ratios, and statistical analysis for TRBV12-3-TRBJ1-2-specific sequence reads obtained from spiked RNA samples. Signal-to-noise ratios were generated using the mean counts of TRBV12-3-TRBJ1-2-specific sequence reads for each pair of experimental replicates. Rows highlighted in yellow include concentrations of spiked-in Jurkat RNA for which statistically significant elevations in TRBV12-3-TRBJ1-2-specific sequence reads were detected relative to background counts observed for unspiked negative control RNA samples.

Back

Library preparation workflow and PCR strategy for TCR profiling using the SMARTer approach

Library preparation workflow and PCR strategy for TCR profiling using the SMARTer approach
Library preparation workflow and PCR strategy for TCR profiling using the SMARTer approach. Panel A. Reverse transcription and PCR amplification of TCR subunit mRNA sequences. First-strand cDNA synthesis is primed by the TCR dT Primer and performed by an MMLV-derived reverse transcriptase (RT). Upon reaching the 5′ end of each mRNA molecule, the RT adds non-templated nucleotides to the first-strand cDNA. The SMART-Seq v4 Oligonucleotide contains a sequence that is complementary to the non-templated nucleotides added by the RT, and hybridizes to the first-strand cDNA. In the template-switching step, the RT uses the remainder of the SMART-Seq v4 Oligonucleotide as a template for the incorporation of an additional sequence on the end of the first-strand cDNA. Full-length variable regions of TCR cDNA are selectively amplified by PCR using primers that are complementary to the oligonucleotide-templated sequence (SMART Primer 1) and the constant region(s) of TCR-α and/or TCR-β subunits (TCR a/b Human Primer 1). A subsequent round of PCR is performed to further amplify variable regions of TCR-α and/or TCR-β subunits and incorporate adapter sequences, using TCR Primer 2 and TCR a/b Human Primer 2. Included in the primers are adapter and index sequences (read 2 + i7 + P7 and read 1 + i5 + P5, respectively) that are compatible with the Illumina sequencing platform. Following purification, size selection, and quality analysis, the TCR cDNA library is ready for sequencing. Panel B. Semi-nested PCR approach for amplification of TCR-α and/or TCR-β subunits. The primer pairs used for the first round of amplification capture the entire variable region(s) and most of the constant region(s) of TCR-α and/or TCR-β cDNA. The second round of amplification retains the entire variable region(s) of TCR-α and/or TCR-β cDNA, and a smaller portion of the constant region(s). The anticipated size of final TCR library cDNA (inserts + adapters) is ~700–800bp.
635016 SMARTer® Human TCR a/b Profiling Kit 96 Rxns USD $5112.00

License Statement

ID Number  
275 SMART-Seq2 Technology. This product is sold under exclusive license from Ludwig Institute of Cancer Research, Ltd. and is covered by US Patent No. 10266894, Japanese Patent No. 6336080, and European Patent No. 3036336, and pending U.S. patent application and/or pending claims of foreign counterparts. For license information, please contact a Takara Bio USA, Inc. licensing representative by phone at 650.919.7320 or by e-mail at licensing@takarabio.com.

The SMARTer Human TCR a/b Profiling Kit enables users to analyze T-cell receptor (TCR) diversity from input RNA samples. This kit is designed to work with a range of RNA input amounts depending on the sample type, and has been shown to generate high-quality libraries from as little as 10 ng to 3 μg of total RNA obtained from peripheral blood leukocytes, or from 50 to 10,000 purified T cells. As the name suggests, the kit can be used to generate data for both alpha- and beta-chain diversity, either in the same experiment or separately.

This kit leverages SMART technology and employs a 5' RACE-like approach to capture complete V(D)J variable regions of TCR transcripts. Included in the kit are primers that incorporate Illumina-specific adaptor sequences during cDNA amplification. The protocol generates indexed libraries that are ready for sequencing on Illumina platforms.

Notice to purchaser

Our products are to be used for Research Use Only. They may not be used for any other purpose, including, but not limited to, use in humans, therapeutic or diagnostic use, or commercial use of any kind. Our products may not be transferred to third parties, resold, modified for resale, or used to manufacture commercial products or to provide a service to third parties without our prior written approval.

Documents Components You May Also Like Image Data

Back

Sequencing reads on target and correlation of clonotype count data for varying sample input amounts

Sequencing reads on target and correlation of clonotype count data for varying sample input amounts
Sequencing reads on target and correlation of clonotype count data for varying sample input amounts. Panel A. Percentages of sequencing reads that map to CDR3 regions in either TCR-α (blue) or TCR-β (purple) or that represent off-target reads (gray). The experimental protocol was performed on three different amounts of peripheral blood RNA: 10 ng, 100 ng, and 1,000 ng. Panel B. Correlation of clonotype count data for 100 ng input RNA vs. 1,000 ng input RNA. Pearson (R) and Spearman (ρ) correlation coefficients are included.

Back

Assessing the sensitivity and reproducibility of the SMARTer approach

Assessing the sensitivity and reproducibility of the SMARTer approach
Assessing the sensitivity and reproducibility of the SMARTer approach. The experimental protocol was performed in replicate on PBMC RNA samples spiked at varying concentrations (10%, 1%, 0.1%, 0.01%, and 0.001%) with RNA obtained from a homogenous population of Leukemic Jurkat T cells (TRAV8-4-TRAJ3, TRBV12-3-TRBJ1-2 clonotype). Panel A. Correlation between concentration of spiked-in Jurkat RNA and number of TRBV12-3-TRBJ1-2-specific sequence reads. Numbers along the X-axis indicate serial-diluted concentrations of spiked-in Jurkat RNA (by mass): 1 = 10%; 2 = 1%; 3 = 0.1%; 4 = 0.01%; 5 = 0.0.01. Count data for TRBV12-3-TRBJ1-2-specific sequence reads were normalized by subtracting the number of corresponding reads obtained for negative control samples consisting of unspiked PBMC RNA. Normalized count data were then Log<sub>10</sub> transformed. Circles and triangles correspond to experimental replicates for each sample concentration. Results of linear regression analysis are indicated in the upper right region of the graph. Panel B. Count data, signal-to-noise ratios, and statistical analysis for TRBV12-3-TRBJ1-2-specific sequence reads obtained from spiked RNA samples. Signal-to-noise ratios were generated using the mean counts of TRBV12-3-TRBJ1-2-specific sequence reads for each pair of experimental replicates. Rows highlighted in yellow include concentrations of spiked-in Jurkat RNA for which statistically significant elevations in TRBV12-3-TRBJ1-2-specific sequence reads were detected relative to background counts observed for unspiked negative control RNA samples.

Back

Library preparation workflow and PCR strategy for TCR profiling using the SMARTer approach

Library preparation workflow and PCR strategy for TCR profiling using the SMARTer approach
Library preparation workflow and PCR strategy for TCR profiling using the SMARTer approach. Panel A. Reverse transcription and PCR amplification of TCR subunit mRNA sequences. First-strand cDNA synthesis is primed by the TCR dT Primer and performed by an MMLV-derived reverse transcriptase (RT). Upon reaching the 5′ end of each mRNA molecule, the RT adds non-templated nucleotides to the first-strand cDNA. The SMART-Seq v4 Oligonucleotide contains a sequence that is complementary to the non-templated nucleotides added by the RT, and hybridizes to the first-strand cDNA. In the template-switching step, the RT uses the remainder of the SMART-Seq v4 Oligonucleotide as a template for the incorporation of an additional sequence on the end of the first-strand cDNA. Full-length variable regions of TCR cDNA are selectively amplified by PCR using primers that are complementary to the oligonucleotide-templated sequence (SMART Primer 1) and the constant region(s) of TCR-α and/or TCR-β subunits (TCR a/b Human Primer 1). A subsequent round of PCR is performed to further amplify variable regions of TCR-α and/or TCR-β subunits and incorporate adapter sequences, using TCR Primer 2 and TCR a/b Human Primer 2. Included in the primers are adapter and index sequences (read 2 + i7 + P7 and read 1 + i5 + P5, respectively) that are compatible with the Illumina sequencing platform. Following purification, size selection, and quality analysis, the TCR cDNA library is ready for sequencing. Panel B. Semi-nested PCR approach for amplification of TCR-α and/or TCR-β subunits. The primer pairs used for the first round of amplification capture the entire variable region(s) and most of the constant region(s) of TCR-α and/or TCR-β cDNA. The second round of amplification retains the entire variable region(s) of TCR-α and/or TCR-β cDNA, and a smaller portion of the constant region(s). The anticipated size of final TCR library cDNA (inserts + adapters) is ~700–800bp.

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Takara Bio USA, Inc. provides kits, reagents, instruments, and services that help researchers explore questions about gene discovery, regulation, and function. As a member of the Takara Bio Group, TBUSA is part of a company that holds a leadership position in the global market and is committed to improving the human condition through biotechnology. Our mission is to develop high-quality innovative tools and services to accelerate discovery.

FOR RESEARCH USE ONLY. NOT FOR USE IN DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES (EXCEPT AS SPECIFICALLY NOTED).

Clontech, TaKaRa, cellartis

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