Product Class: Kit

ProtoScript® First Strand cDNA Synthesis Kit

Product Introduction

The ProtoScript First Strand cDNA Synthesis Kit is contains everything needed for cDNA synthesis

  • Recombinant M-MuLV reverse transcriptase
  • Generates cDNA up to 10 kb
  • Supplied with Oligo-dT primers, Randomized Primer Mix, and nuclease-free water
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Catalog # Size Concentration
E6300S 30 reactions
E6300L 150 reactions

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Product Information

Description

ProtoScript® First Strand cDNA Synthesis Kit features two optimized mixes, M-MuLV Enzyme Mix and M-MuLV Reaction Mix. M-MuLV Enzyme Mix combines M-MuLV Reverse Transcriptase and Murine RNase Inhibitor, while M-MuLV Reaction Mix contains dNTPs and an optimized buffer. The kit also contains two optimized primers for reverse transcription and nuclease-free water. An anchored oligo-dT primer [d(T)23VN] forces the primer to anneal to the beginning of the polyA tail. The optimized Random Primer Mix provides random and consistent priming sites covering the entire RNA template including both mRNAs and non-polyadenylated RNAs. The first strand cDNA product generated is more than 10 kb (Figure 1).

General Information for Successful cDNA Synthesis:

Template RNA
Intact RNA of high purity is essential for sensitive RT-PCR detection. RNA should have a minimum A260/A280 ratio of 1.7 or higher. 

Either total RNA or mRNA can be used in the reverse transcription reaction. Total RNA is generally sufficient for most RT-PCR analyses. However, if desired mRNA can be easily obtained using a PolyA Spin mRNA Isolation Kit (NEB #S1560) or Magnetic mRNA Isolation Kit (NEB #S1550).

The amount of RNA required for detection depends on the abundance of the transcript of interest. In general 1 ng to 1 μg total RNA or 0.1-100 ng mRNA are recommended.

First Strand cDNA Synthesis Reaction
Denaturation of RNA and primer at 70°C for 5 minutes can remove secondary structures that may impede long cDNA synthesis. However, this step can be omitted in some cases (unpublished results). 

We recommend incubation at 42°C for one hour for maximum yield and length. However, many targets can be detected after a much shorter incubation time. For example, 5 minutes incubation is enough for a 2 kb cDNA synthesis.

Choice of Primers for Reverse Transcription
Oligo d(T) priming is preferred for most applications because it ensures that all cDNA copies terminate at the 3´ end of the mRNA and produces the longest contiguous cDNA. An anchored oligo-d(T) primer [d(T)23VN] forces the primer to anneal to the start of the polyA tail, thereby preventing priming at internal sites in the polyA tail (1). However, two other priming choices are possible if desired.

The Random Primer Mix is an optimized mix of hexamer and d(T)23VN primers. It provides random priming sites covering the entire RNA templates including both mRNAs and non-polyadenylated RNAs (such as ribosomal RNAs). The Random Primer Mix yields shorter cDNAs on average and can be used for the detection of multiple short RT-PCR products. Random Primer Mix offers good performance in a wide range of RNA templates. 

When a gene-specific primer is used in a cDNA synthesis reaction, the cDNA product can be used only for amplification of that transcript. This priming method gives good results when the amount of RNA is limiting (below 10 ng) and only one particular cDNA is desired.

Recommended primer concentration:
PRIMER -- Final conc.
OLIGO d(T)23VN -- -- 5 μM
RANDOM PRIMER MIX -- 6 μM
SPECIFIC PRIMER -- 0.1–1 μM





Figure 1: Figure 1

First strand cDNA synthesis was carried out with 1X M-MuLV Enzyme Mix at 42°C using 2 μg of human spleen total RNA. Negative control reactions were carried out with 1X M-MuLV Reaction Mix. A fraction of the first strand cDNA product was used to amplify sequences specific for three different messenger RNAs using 1X LongAmp™ Taq 2X Master Mix (NEB #M0287 ). Lane 1: 1.1 kb of beta-actin gene. Lane 2: noRT control of 1.1 kb of beta-actin gene. Lane 3: 4.7 kb of Xrn-1 gene. Lane 4: noRT control of 4.7 kb of Xrn-1 gene. Lane 5: 9.8 kb of guanine nucleotide exchange factor p532. Lane 6: noRT control of 9.8 kb of guanine nucleotide exchange factor p532. Marker M is 2-Log DNA Ladder (NEB #N3200 ).
This product is related to the following categories:
RT-PCR,
cDNA Synthesis & Reverse Transcriptases,
This product can be used in the following applications:
cDNA Synthesis,
Reverse Transcription (cDNA Synthesis),
RT-PCR & cDNA Synthesis,
PCR

Kit Components

Kit Components

The following reagents are supplied with this product:

NEB # Component Name Component # Stored at (°C) Amount Concentration
  • NEB # Stored at (°C)
    E6300S -20
    Component Name Component # Stored at (°C) Amount Concentration
    M-MuLV Enzyme Mix M0342AVIAL -20 1 x 0.06 ml 10 X
    M-MuLV Reaction Mix M0343AVIAL -20 1 x 0.4 ml 2 X
    Random Primer Mix S1330AVIAL -20 1 x 0.07 ml 60 µM
    Oligo d(T)23 VN S1332AVIAL -20 1 x 0.07 ml 50 µM
    Nuclease-free Water B1502AVIAL -20 1 x 1.5 ml Not Applicable
  • NEB # Stored at (°C)
    E6300L -20
    Component Name Component # Stored at (°C) Amount Concentration
    ProtoScript® First Strand cDNA Synthesis Kit E6300S -20 5 x 30 reactions Not Applicable
    M-MuLV Enzyme Mix M0342AVIAL -20 1 x 0.06 ml 10 X
    M-MuLV Reaction Mix M0343AVIAL -20 1 x 0.4 ml 2 X
    Random Primer Mix S1330AVIAL -20 1 x 0.07 ml 60 µM
    Oligo d(T)23 VN S1332AVIAL -20 1 x 0.07 ml 50 µM
    Nuclease-free Water B1502AVIAL -20 1 x 1.5 ml Not Applicable

Properties & Usage

References

  1. Liao, J. and Greg, Z. (1997). Biotechniques. 23, 368-370.
  2. Sambrook, J. and Russel, D.W. (2001). Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual (3rd ed.). (pp. 8.46-8.53 and 11.37-11.42). Cold Spring Harbor.

FAQs & Troubleshooting

FAQs

  1. How do I choose between LunaScript® RT SuperMix Kit and ProtoScript first strand cDNA synthesis kits?
  2. Why am I getting a low yield of cDNA?

Quality, Safety & Legal

Quality Assurance Statement

Quality Control tests are performed on each new lot of NEB product to meet the specifications designated for it. Specifications and individual lot data from the tests that are performed for this particular product can be found and downloaded on the Product Specification Sheet, Certificate of Analysis, data card or product manual. Further information regarding NEB product quality can be found here.

Specifications

The Specification sheet is a document that includes the storage temperature, shelf life and the specifications designated for the product. The following file naming structure is used to name these document files: [Product Number]_[Size]_[Version]

Certificate Of Analysis

The Certificate of Analysis (COA) is a signed document that includes the storage temperature, expiration date and quality controls for an individual lot. The following file naming structure is used to name these document files: [Product Number]_[Size]_[Version]_[Lot Number]

Safety DataSheets

The following is a list of Safety Data Sheet (SDS) that apply to this product to help you use it safely.

Legal and Disclaimers

Products and content are covered by one or more patents, trademarks and/or copyrights owned or controlled by New England Biolabs, Inc (NEB). The use of trademark symbols does not necessarily indicate that the name is trademarked in the country where it is being read; it indicates where the content was originally developed. The use of this product may require the buyer to obtain additional third-party intellectual property rights for certain applications. For more information, please email busdev@neb.com.

This product is intended for research purposes only. This product is not intended to be used for therapeutic or diagnostic purposes in humans or animals.

New England Biolabs (NEB) is committed to practicing ethical science – we believe it is our job as researchers to ask the important questions that when answered will help preserve our quality of life and the world that we live in. However, this research should always be done in safe and ethical manner. Learn more.

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