Published Research in Nature Methods Details the Detection of 75% More Expressed Genes Than Microarray Approaches

CARLSBAD, Calif.–Applied Biosystems, a division of Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ:LIFE) today announced that researchers have discovered comprehensive profiles of gene activity from single cells using the SOLiD™ System, its next-generation genomic analysis platform. The finding, which is detailed in the current edition of the journal Nature Methods, represents the first use of any next-generation genomic analysis platform for a hypothesis-neutral, genome-wide survey of expressed genes in individual cells.

This proprietary research method has the potential to reveal details about cell fate and can potentially accelerate the discovery of biomarkers for a variety of diseases, including cancer. The high sensitivity of the SOLiD System enabled the scientists to generate 75% more, or 5,270 more expressed genes with a single cell compared to microarray techniques. The researchers identified 1,753 novel splice junctions, which have never been detected by microarray techniques at single cell resolution.

Detailed characterizations of cell behavior provide researchers a better understanding of how cells can be used in regenerative therapies for damaged cells and organs. By profiling expression patterns of genes, researchers can obtain a more accurate view of the transcriptome by cell or tissue type, which can result in a better understanding of the nature of diseased cells, such as cancer stem cells, which play a key role in cancer recurrence and tumor metastasis. Cancer researchers typically challenged by only being able to obtain tiny amounts of RNA from biological samples can utilize the SOLiD System to generate detailed gene expression profiles from the trace amounts of RNA present in single cell and cancer samples.

Kai Lao, Ph.D., Applied Biosystems principal scientist

“With this significant finding, researchers will have more confidence adopting sequencing-based experiments that will accelerate the understanding of the biological basis of complex diseases, such as cancer. As scientists gain a greater understanding of stem cell behavior, we will learn more about how these self-renewing cells contribute to these diseases.”

Azim Surani, Ph.D., Marshall-Walton Professor at the Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge

“There are many instances where it is necessary to obtain comprehensive information from a few, or indeed, individual cells. This is essential for studies on early development at the start of cell fate decisions. Evidently, even the seemingly homogeneous cells, including stem cells, are in fact heterogeneous and their cell fate choices and responses to drugs are not identical. The gene expression profiling method we describe here will be very valuable for investigations in many areas of cell and developmental biology that are important for understanding the origin of human diseases.”

Resources

“mRNA-Seq Whole Transcriptome Analysis of a Single Cell”

SOLiD System

Sequencing vs. Microarray Techniques

Whole Transcriptome Kit for the isolation of individual embryonic cells and extraction of total RNA

TaqMan® Gene Expression Assays for the validation of the presence of specific mRNA molecules

Applied Biosystems Leadership in Advanced Genomics Technologies

Applied Biosystems is a global leader in providing innovative instrument systems to accelerate academic and clinical research, drug discovery and development, pathogen detection and forensic DNA analysis. The technologies it markets include a robust line of DNA sequencing systems and chemistries to meet the increasing demands of the scientific community for higher throughput, more sophisticated DNA sequencing solutions. Applied Biosystems, together, with Invitrogen – a leading provider of platform independent, essential life science technologies for disease and drug research, bioproduction and diagnostics – is part of Life Technologies Corporation, which markets the life science industry’s most comprehensive portfolio of solutions for molecular and cell biology. Applied Biosystems and Invitrogen products are used in nearly every major laboratory in the world. For more information, please visit: www.appliedbiosystems.com and www.invitrogen.com.

About Life Technologies

Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ:LIFE) is a global biotechnology tools company dedicated to improving the human condition. Our systems, consumables and services enable researchers to accelerate scientific exploration, driving to discoveries and developments that make life even better. Life Technologies customers do their work across the biological spectrum, working to advance personalized medicine, regenerative science, molecular diagnostics, agricultural and environmental research, and 21st century forensics. Life Technologies had sales of more than $3 billion in 2008, employs approximately 9,500 people, has a presence in more than 100 countries, and possesses a rapidly growing intellectual property estate of approximately 3,600 patents and exclusive licenses. Life Technologies was created by the combination of Invitrogen Corporation and Applied Biosystems Inc. For more information on how we are making a difference please visit our website: www.lifetechnologies.com.

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