Product Class: Other

Faustovirus Capping Enzyme
Gray property icon for NEBU Gray property icon for incubation temperature 37° 70 Heat Gray property icon for SAM

GMP-grade reagent also available. Learn more.

Product Introduction

  • Faustovirus Capping Enzyme adds the m7G-cap (Cap-0) to the 5′ end of triphosphorylated and diphosphorylated RNA
  • Experience improved capping efficiency, even on difficult substrates
  • Achieve robust capping with less enzyme
  • Set up reactions under a broad temperature range, for added flexibility
  • Choose as an alternative to Vaccinia Capping System, with minimal optimization required
  • Enable one-pot Cap-1 synthesis, as FCE is compatible with mRNA Cap 2′-O-Methyltransferase
  • Benefit from no licensing fees from NEB for the use of FCE
  • Getting ready to scale up RNA synthesis? Download our new technical note “Scaling of High-Yield In vitro Transcription Reactions for Linear Increase of RNA Production” for a generalized set of recommendations for synthesizing high yields of RNA.
 
Bioz Badge Exists : True
Catalog # Size Concentration
M2081S 500 units 25000 units/ml
M2081L 2500 units 25000 units/ml

Product Information

Description

Faustovirus Capping Enzyme (FCE) catalyzes the addition of N7-methylguanosine cap (m7G) to the 5´ end of triphosphorylated and diphosphorylated transcripts, producing Cap-0 RNA. FCE is a single-subunit enzyme that combines the three activities necessary to produce the Cap-0 structure- triphosphatase, guanylyltransferase, and (guanine-N7)-methyltransferase. Installation of Cap-0 is a key step in eukaryotic mRNA maturation along with 2´-O-methylation at position 1 (Cap-1) and polyadenosine (poly(A)) tailing. The Cap-0 structure also promotes RNA stability and prevents inadvertent activation of innate immune responses triggered by triphosphorylated RNA. 

FCE retains significant capping activity at low temperatures and tolerates reaction temperatures up to 55°C. In many cases, 1 µl of FCE (25 units) can cap over 100 µg of RNA in 1 hour at 37°C. GTP and S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) are required for capping activity and are included with the enzyme.

Source: An E. coli strain that carries a plasmid encoding the Faustovirus Capping Enzyme with a C-terminal His-tag.

Figure 1: mRNA 5´ cap structures

Diagram of mRNA capping, comparing Cap-0 mRNA using FCE and VCE and Cap-1 mRNA using mRNA Cap 2´-O-Methyltransferase

Schematic representation of mRNA 5´ Cap-0 and Cap-1 structures indicating the 7-methylguanosine, shown in yellow, and the 5´ end of the mRNA, shown in blue. The 2´-O-methyl group present in the Cap-1 and Cap-1 structure is shown in red.

Figure 2: FCE offers increased capping efficiency and workflow optimization

2 Graphs showing capping enzyme difficult UTRs Temps

A. mRNA capping by FCE and Vaccinia Capping Enzyme (VCE) at 37°C. 200 μg (~350 picomoles, 7 μM) of a 1.77 kb FLuc transcript having 5´-UTR sequences as indicated were treated with a limiting amount of FCE (25 units, 1 picomole, 20 nM in 50 μl) or VCE (10 units, 1 picomole, 20 nM in 50 μl) for 1 hour at 37°C. Note that this is less than our recommended amount of enzyme highlighting the increased capping efficiency of FCE vs VCE and the potential benefits of workflow optimization. 

B. mRNA capping by FCE at 37°C and 42°C. 200 μg (~350 picomoles, 7 μM) of a 1.77 kb FLuc transcript having 5′-UTR sequences as indicated were treated with a limiting amount (25 units, 1 picomole or 20 nM) of FCE for 1 hour at 37°C or 42°C. Note that this is less than our recommended amount of enzyme highlighting the potential benefits of workflow optimization. All capping reactions were performed in 50 μl reactions containing 0.1 mM SAM, and 0.5 mM GTP, 1X FCE Capping Buffer for FCE reactions or 1X Capping Buffer for VCE reactions. Following capping reactions, mRNA capping was measured using targeted RNase H cleavage and LC-MS. 

Figure 3: FCE expands temperature range for RNA capping reactions

Bar graph comparing Cap-0 RNA percentage for Faustovirus capping enzyme – FCE – to Vaccina Capping Enzyme – VCE at various temperatures

RNA capping by FCE and VCE from 15ºC to 60ºC. Capping reactions (20 μl) contained 2.5 μM RNA substrate (5´-triphosphate 20mer 3´-FAM), a limiting concentration (8 nM) of capping enzyme, 0.1 mM SAM, and 0.5 mM GTP. FCE capping reactions were performed in 1X FCE Capping Buffer, and VCE capping reactions were performed in 1X Capping Buffer. All reactions were incubated for 30 minutes at the indicated reaction temperature. Reaction products were measured by capillary electrophoresis. 

Figure 4. FCE offers robust capping of a variety of RNA 5´ ends (at least 100 μg yield per 50 units)

Graph showing capping of a variety of RNA ends 

Extent of mRNA capping by FCE. 200 μg (~350 picomoles, 3.5 uM) of a 1.77 kb FLuc transcript having 5´-UTR sequences as indicated were treated with 2 μl (50 units, 2 picomoles, 20 nM) of FCE in 100 μl reactions containing 1X FCE buffer for 1 hour at 37°C. Following capping reactions, mRNA capping was measured using targeted RNase H cleavage and LC-MS.

This product is related to the following categories:
RNA Capping,

Reagents Supplied

Reagents Supplied

The following reagents are supplied with this product:

NEB # Component Name Component # Stored at (°C) Amount Concentration
  • NEB # Stored at (°C)
    M2081S -20
    Component Name Component # Stored at (°C) Amount Concentration
    Faustovirus Capping Enzyme M2081SVIAL -20 1 x 0.02 ml 25,000 units/ml
    Capping Buffer B2080AAVIAL -20 1 x 0.5 ml 10 X
    S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) B9003SVIAL -20 1 x 0.1 ml 32 mM
    GTP N2080AVIAL -20 1 x 0.05 ml 10 mM
  • NEB # Stored at (°C)
    M2081L -20
    Component Name Component # Stored at (°C) Amount Concentration
    Faustovirus Capping Enzyme M2081LVIAL -20 1 x 0.1 ml 25,000 units/ml
    Capping Buffer B2080AAVIAL -20 1 x 0.5 ml 10 X
    S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) B9003SVIAL -20 1 x 0.1 ml 32 mM
    GTP N2080AAVIAL -20 1 x 0.25 ml 10 mM

Properties & Usage

Unit Definition

One unit of Faustovirus Capping Enzyme is defined as the amount of enzyme required to convert 75 pmol of a 20-mer ppp-RNA to Cap-0 RNA in 30 minutes at 37°C.

Reaction Conditions

1X Capping Buffer
Supplement with 0.5 mM GTP and 0.1 mM S-adenosylmethionine (SAM)
Incubate at 37°C

1X Capping Buffer
50 mM Tris-HCl
5 mM KCl
1 mM MgCl2
1 mM DTT
(pH 8 @ 25°C)

Heat Inactivation

70°C for 10 minutes

Addition of EDTA to 5 mM is recommended to avoid RNA hydrolysis.

Features

  • Experience improved capping efficiency, even on difficult substrates
  • Achieve robust capping with less enzyme
  • Set up reactions under a broad temperature range, for added flexibility

References

  1. Ramanathan, A. et al. (2016). Nucleic Acids Res . 44 (16), 7511–7526.
  2. Furuichi, Y., LaFiandra, A. & Shatkin, A. (1977). Nature. 266, 235-239.
  3. Schlee, M., Hartmann, G. (2016). Nat Rev Immunol . 16, 568-580.
  4. Chan, S Hong et al. (2023). RNA. 29,11, 1803-1817.
  5. Molé C, et al. (2026). Journal of Biological Chemistry. 302,8, 113237.

FAQs & Troubleshooting

FAQs

  1. What are Cap-0 and Cap-1?
  2. Can Faustovirus Capping Enzyme (NEB #M2081) use cap analogs in a capping reaction?
  3. Can Faustovirus Capping Enzyme (NEB #M2081) use GTP analogs in a capping reaction?
  4. Is Faustovirus Capping Enzyme sensitive to secondary structure?
  5. Is Faustovirus Capping Enzyme active at temperatures other than 37°C?

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.

Licenses

"GMP-grade" is a branding term NEB uses to describe reagents manufactured at NEB’s Rowley facility. The Rowley facility was designed to manufacture reagents under more rigorous infrastructure and process controls to achieve more stringent product specifications and customer requirements. Reagents manufactured at NEB’s Rowley facility are manufactured in compliance with ISO 9001 and ISO 13485 quality management system standards. However, at this time, NEB does not manufacture or sell products known as Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), nor does NEB manufacture its products in compliance with all of the Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulations.