RNA Sequencing

Poly (A) RNA-Seq is an advanced method for accurately measuring gene expression in biological samples under specific conditions. It enables the identification of novel transcripts, alternative splicing, and gene fusion events, providing a comprehensive view of the transcriptome.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNA molecules that act as negative regulators of gene expression, controlling a wide range of cellular processes. Research on microRNAs is rapidly expanding as researchers identify new microRNAs and uncover their critical roles in diverse biological systems.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are RNA molecules longer than 200 nucleotides that do not encode proteins. The involvement of lncRNAs in a wide range of essential cellular processes, coupled with their critical roles in human diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disorders, and neurological conditions, makes them a significant focus of current research. lncRNA-Seq is a valuable tool for obtaining a comprehensive view of lncRNA expression in biological samples under specific conditions.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) represent a novel class of abundant, stable, and ubiquitous RNA molecules. Unlike mRNAs, circRNAs lack poly (A) tails and 5’ caps, and are resistant to exonuclease degradation. circRNAs can act as microRNA (miRNA) or RNA-binding protein (RBP) sponges, sequestering miRNAs and sequestering these molecules and thereby regulating gene expression and transcriptional activity.

In recent years, RNA modifications have attracted increasing scientific interest, particularly N6-methyladenosine (m6A)—the most prevalent methylation modification observed in mRNA. Methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeRIP-seq or m6A-seq) is a highly effective method for detecting m6A and other post-transcriptional RNA modifications. Furthermore, this method enables genome-wide identification of m6A sites, allowing researchers to quantify modification levels across genes and perform comparative analyses between groups.

Whole Transcriptome Sequencing (WTS)—which combines RNA-Seq with rRNA removal and small RNA-Seq—is a powerful tool that provides a comprehensive overview of mRNAs, lncRNAs, circRNAs, and microRNAs, in biological samples under specific conditions. WTS enables the investigation of complex post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms, particularly the competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network. In this network, ceRNAs such as mRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs act as molecular sponges for microRNAs (miRNAs) by binding to their miRNA recognition sites, thereby relieving repression on the target genes of the corresponding miRNA family.