Using Automated Electrophoresis to Assess RNA Quality

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., a multinational manufacturer and distributor of life science research and clinical diagnostic products, announced today the availability of a technical note (#5315A), which describes the use of Bio-Rad’s Experion™ automated electrophoresis system to assess RNA quality and quantity in siRNA-induced gene silencing experiments.

An awareness of the quality of an RNA sample is essential to the success of experiments designed to study gene expression. Failure to evaluate the state of RNA samples before their use in downstream applications, such as validation of siRNA gene silencing using RT-qPCR, can yield faulty conclusions.

The Experion system has been shown to be a useful tool in this regard, accurately quantitating RNA as well as providing information on the overall quality and integrity of the RNA that will ultimately be analyzed in various downstream applications.

In this paper, it is discussed how the Experion system, which uses microfluidics technology, can be incorporated into an RNAi experimental workflow. Further, it is shown that the qualitative and quantitative RNA sample information that is obtained using this system is beneficial to the successful evaluation and validation of the efficacy of siRNA-mediated gene silencing.

Supported be numerous graphs, figures and tables, the four-page technical note provides the methods, results, and discussion for assessing RNA quality and quantity, as well as illustrating that RNA quality is critical to downstream results.