Functionality and viability of primary cells can be impaired by incorrect thawing procedures, storage or culture conditions. It’s generally admitted that applying the same protocols as for cell lines leads will lead to bad cell quality. Well, based on our experience with primary cells, here are a few tips you can follow to ensure you get the best performance.

Exploring the small RNA transcriptome, a key challenge

Small RNA are involved in numerous biological process and linked to a wide range of conditions. For example miRNA can be used for detection of cancers from blood samples and are used for cancer classification. They are involved in the regulation of the messenger RNA translation.

The small RNA transcriptome is a vast world rich in information. There are not only miRNA but other small RNA that can also be used for diagnostics. For example, Repetto et al in 2015 (doi: 10.1186/s12916-015-0489-y) discovered novel small RNA in blood, s-RNY1-5p as a diagnostic biomarker for atherosclerosis-related diseases. The authors used small-RNA sequencing with the innovative CleanTag technology.

Biomolecule conjugation is critical to many applications such as bead-based assays, ELISA and chromatography by affinity. Unfortunately the classical methods are known to be tedious and with low efficiency. Trilink Biotechnologies has come this year with the solution, an innovative chromophore-linker-based conjugation chemistry called ChromaLink.

Capping is a required protection in 5′ of the mRNA that is necessary for biological activity and stability into the cells. There are already several methods of capping using mCap, ARCA or enzymatic methods. Unfortunately, they are limited in efficiency (such as mCap and ARCA), and can be costly (such as the enzymatic methods). Trilink Biotechnologies, the modified nucleic acid experts, have developped a new, far more efficient technology called CleanCap available in Europe via tebu-bio.