Mir-X microRNA quantification

Quickly and accurately quantify your microRNAs (miRNAs) and their messenger RNA targets with this complete qRT-PCR kit.

• Quantify any miRNA and its target from the same RNA sample
• Two kits in one—cDNA synthesis and qPCR
• Simple, single-step cDNA synthesis reaction

For the challenging task of unraveling microRNA expression profiles in tissues and cell lines, Takara Bio scientists have developed a sensitive, reliable, and easy-to-use miRNA quantification system. Mir-X miRNA qRT-PCR TB Green kits are complete, dual-function systems for performing first-strand cDNA synthesis and quantitative PCR (qPCR) to precisely measure the level of your favorite miRNAs. The kits are available in economical, large-sized formats that provide 200 or 600 qPCR reactions.

Simple and sensitive

A simple, single-step reaction uses an optimized mix of poly A+ polymerase and SMART MMLV Reverse Transcriptase to synthesize first-strand cDNA from your RNA sample. The cDNA is then specifically amplified and quantified by qPCR using your miRNA-specific primer and our TB Green Advantage qPCR Premix. Multiple miRNA species, as well as the mRNA targets of the miRNAs, can be amplified from a single cDNA sample. The system is extremely sensitive and able to detect miRNAs down to 50 copies.

Mir-X miRNA qRT-PCR TB Green kits use a single-step, single-tube reaction to produce first-strand cDNA, which is then specifically and quantitatively amplified using a miRNA-specific primer and TB Green Advantage qPCR chemistry. In the Mir-X cDNA synthesis reaction, RNAs are poly(A)-tailed using polyA polymerase, and then copied using a modified oligo(dT) primer and SMART MMLV Reverse Transcriptase.

Highly specific detection

To demonstrate the specificity of Mir-X miRNA quantification, we used a series of eight highly similar synthetic Let7 miRNA variants (Figure 1). We first spiked each of the Let7 miRNAs into separate samples of yeast polyA+ RNA and generated cDNA using the Mir-X single-tube reaction. We then tested a panel of variant-specific primers with each cDNA sample to determine each primer's ability to specifically and individually quantify the Let7 subtypes in the cDNA sample. Despite the high degrees of similarity among the variants and the primers (Figure 1, Panel A), Mir-X qPCR was highly specific in detecting each Let7 variant (Figure 1, Panel B).

Diverse research applications

Since the Mir-X system is able to detect multiple miRNAs, shRNAs, or mRNA targets in a single RNA sample, it can be used for a variety of applications. In principle, any RNA that is, or can be, polyadenylated may be quantified using the Mir-X method.

In mouse embryonic stem cells, we were able to monitor the alterations in expression for a panel of 12 miRNAs that respond to trichostatin A (TSA) treatment (Figure 2).

Exposing aggregated mouse P19 cell clusters to retinoic acid (RA) causes them to acquire neural cell phenotypes, which are accompanied by changes in the cellular miRNA pool. Using the Mir-X system, we tracked the abundance of one such miRNA, miR-9, which was induced by RA and continued to accumulate in these cells following a five-day exposure to RA (Figure 3).

Summary

Mir-X miRNA qRT-PCR TB Green kits are complete, dual-function qPCR systems that have the flexibility to monitor the level of your favorite miRNA or any other RNA species in your RNA sample. The single-tube cDNA synthesis is faster and far less complicated than other available methods, while miRNA qPCR is very sensitive and extremely accurate.