Applications of RNA Extraction
Ribonucleic acid or RNA is one of the most profuse biomolecules present in living cells and has structure similar to DNA. A single-stranded nucleic acid, RNA with its complementary base pairing, is essential in a raft of biological processes and applications such as coding, expression and regulation of genes, etc. Since RNA is an unstable molecule, high-quality RNA extraction is a herculean task but also crucial to many downstream processes.
“DNA extraction is relatively easy, its even stable at room temperature, but RNA is very insecure and handling RNA for RNA extraction will require expertise in a lab setting.”
RNA vaccines
We have come a long way from the first vaccine produced to prevent smallpox in 1798. Conventional vaccines were successful in eradicating infectious diseases, but they are now being replaced with faster, cheaper and more effective messenger RNA vaccines to battle evolving pathogens like Ebola. Extracted mRNA sequence that codes for a specific disease antigen is introduced into the body. The body produces the antigen, thereby triggering the immune system, which later recognises the antigen when the real virus enters the body. RNA vaccines have been very efficacious in fighting Covid-19 caused by the novel RNA coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which has plagued the world since 2020.
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Cancer research and therapy
Due to the augmentation of high-quality RNA extraction from single cells, RNA finds application in cancer research. Single-cell RNA sequencing enables the analysis of a single tumor cell for biological information to discover potential biomarkers of different oncological diseases, and determine expression heterogeneity and drug resistance. Analysis of the complete range of mRNA expressed by the tumour cells by scRNA-seq gives comprehensive information on the cellular interactions and activity taking place in the cancer microenvironment. This helps in immunotherapy.
Transcriptome analysis
One of the significant applications of RNA extraction is transcriptome analysis. Transcriptome is the complete set of RNA molecules present in the cell and its analysis is widely used to compare sets of samples, for example, RNA from a normal and diseased cell. This comparison helps in singling out the cause of disease in the cell by identifying potential biomarkers or protein targets. Transcriptome analysis can thus be used to develop personalized medicine and therapy. Since transcriptome analysis can characterize a cell at any developmental stage, it can be applied to study embryonic growth or cell differentiation.
Gene Expression Profiling
The determination of the pattern of gene expression in a cell at the transcription level is done by gene expression profiling. By using microarrays or sequencing technologies, gene expression profiling can measure thousands of genes simultaneously or in some cases, the entire genome! This application of RNA extraction is used to investigate the effect of various environmental conditions on the gene expression levels and the effect of drug molecules in the body.
Viral RNA analysis for infectious diseases
Detection of Viral RNA played a significant role in fighting against the pandemic. Viral RNA extraction was the first step in the sequence of steps involved in testing for the Covid-19 virus. Mostly RNA extraction is done using spin column methods, molecular diagnostics departments are now familiar with the use of automated platforms for RNA extraction for the same. Resulting in thousands of RNA extractions a day to manage the heavy caseload.
Get High Quality RNA extraction using Cambrian Bioworks products
Cambrian Quickpure viral DNA/RNA ZB kit is designed for the rapid and reliable isolation of viral RNA and viral DNA from whole blood, serum, plasma, saliva, and other bodily fluids. The CamBead® magnetic bead technology enables purification of high quality nucleic acids that are free of proteins, nucleases, and other impurities thus aiding in high quality RNA extraction. Cambrian offers filled reagent kits for most popular automated RNA extraction platforms. The purified nucleic acids are ready for direct use in downstream applications, such as PCR and sequencing.
Cambrian CamSpin columns are manufactured using high quality silica membranes that are of a defined pore size and thickness; ensuring pure high-quality RNA extraction. CamSpin spin columns are reliable and easy to use. Our spin columns use chaotropic salts for effective binding and extraction of nucleic acids.
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