RNA Detection Technologies
With the increasing importance of molecular diagnostics in the detection of disease and monitoring of treatment, there is a crucial need for detection technologies that can be incorporated into existing diagnostic schemes yet overcome the inadequacies of current methods. SomaGenics has developed two technology platforms that address aspects of diagnostic detection.
RNA Lassos
The RNA Lasso combines SNP-level specificity and high sensitivity in a superior hybridization probe for quantifying relatively long nucleic acids, particularly mRNAs.
MicroRNA Detection
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) represent an important class of biomarkers and drug targets. SomaGenics is developing novel methods for detecting and quantifying levels of miRNAs in cells and tissues. These methods, which can be applied to all small regulatory RNAs, provide important improvements over alternative methods.
| Feature | Challenge | SomaGenics Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Specificity | Must differentiate closely related molecules | Delivers single nucleotide specificity |
| Convenience | Fragmented large cellular RNAs can interfere with detection; existing methods require size fractionation prior to detection | Method requires no purification step (fragments don’t interfere) |
| Detecting plant miRNA | Natural 2’-O-methyl modifications of plant mrRNAs are incompatible with existing methods | Overcome with proprietary technology |