The custom design process
The QuantiNova LNA Probe PCR Custom Assay design tool lets you easily design highly sensitive and specific, LNA-enhanced PCR assays for any mRNA or lncRNA not available as a predesigned assay. Using the advanced QuantiNova PCR Assay design algorithm, numerous assay combinations are evaluated based on more than 50 different criteria to find the optimal assay for your target within a few minutes. The tool has been designed for human, mouse and rat mRNA and lncRNA targets of at least 55 nucleotides and blasts against the species-relevant databases, including Ensembl and RefSeq. For known gene targets, assays are designed as intron-spanning by default, similar to the predesigned assays, to prevent the risk of gDNA amplification.
Uniquely advanced assay design options
The custom assay design tool includes options to create transcript-specific designs for discriminating splice variants, SNPs or isoforms. Alternatively, designs for assays common to all transcript variants can also be created. You can submit up to 10 different target sequences at once and design either ten different assays, or for related transcripts, you can design a common assay for all.
Note: The preliminary release of the custom design tool can be accessed in GeneGlobe, but some functionalities may not be available. The full version will be released soon. If you need immediate assistance with your advanced design request, please contact our specialist team.
Robust and high-performance hydrolysis probe-based detection
QuantiNova LNA Probe PCR Assays use FAM-labeled hydrolysis probe-based detection, which is highly sensitive and robust, because only the desired PCR product is detected. Probe-based detection still requires high PCR specificity to prevent amplification artifacts such as non-specific PCR products and primer–dimers that can compete for reaction components and compromise performance. However, we’ve already optimized the QuantiNova LNA Probe PCR system for you to eliminate non-specific amplification and give you accurate and sensitive detection every time.
Reference Gene Assays can be easily combined with the custom assays
A wide selection of human, mouse and rat Reference Gene Assays are available to enable high-quality data normalization and ensure reliable results. These assays target endogenous coding RNAs, long non-coding RNA and small nucleolar RNA molecules that are typically constitutively expressed in a wide variety of tissues. The Reference Gene Assays are FAM labeled and have been functionally validated as reference genes for the QuantiNova LNA PCR system and work optimally with the QuantiNova RT and PCR reagents.
Normalization of mRNA/lncRNA qPCR results
Normalization removes technical and biological inter-sample variation unrelated to the biological changes under investigation. Proper normalization is critical for correct analysis and interpretation of results from real-time PCR experiments. Most commonly, stably expressed reference genes are used for normalization.
It is generally recommended to test several endogenous control reference gene candidates before setting up your actual mRNA/lncRNA expression analysis. These candidates should be chosen from genes expected to be stably expressed over the whole range of samples under investigation. They could be stably expressed mRNAs or lncRNAs selected based on literature or preexisting data (e.g., NGS or qPCR panel screening). The QuantiNova LNA PCR system offers validated reference gene assays for RNAs that tend to be stably expressed and are therefore good candidates as reference genes.
All reference gene candidates should be empirically validated for each study. One option for normalizing PCR panel when profiling a large number of mRNAs/lncRNAs is to normalize against the global mean – the average of all expressed mRNAs/lncRNAs. This can be a good option in samples with a high call rate (expressed genes) but should be used with caution in samples with low call rates. It is also not a good option in samples for which the general gene expression level is changed. Further guidance on normalization can also be found in the GeneGlobe Data Analysis Center.
User-friendly data analysis
The complimentary, web-based data analysis tool in the GeneGlobe Data Analysis Center includes a user-friendly wizard to guide you step-by-step through the normalization and analysis of your data and generates publication-ready results figures.