mRNA Sequencing

Introduction and Workflow

  • Messenger RNA-Seq (mRNA-Seq) is a focused RNA-Seq method that targets polyadenylated (poly-A) transcripts, which comprise only about 1-2% of the transcriptome, mainly representing coding genes. By enriching these poly-A-tailed RNAs, mRNA-Seq offers a precise snapshot of gene expression, capturing the complete range of mRNA transcripts within a sample and enabling detailed analysis of gene activity across various conditions.
  • mRNA-seq workflow typically includes RNA extraction, enrichment or depletion of mRNA, library preparation, and high-throughput sequencing. This workflow ensures precise and efficient capture of mRNA transcripts for thorough downstream analysis.
  • Bioinformatics analysis for mRNA-seq involves several key steps: data preprocessing, alignment to a reference genome, quantifying gene expression levels, and advanced downstream analyses such as differential expression, pathway enrichment, and gene ontology analysis.
  • Widely applicable across diverse research fields, including human, animal, and plant studies, providing profound insights into genetic landscapes and contributing to our understanding of gene function and regulation.

Advantage

  • mRNA-Seq provides a targeted analysis of gene expression specific to protein-coding regions, making it ideal for studies focused on gene regulation, protein synthesis, and disease-related expression changes.
  • mRNA-Seq focuses on mRNA enrichment, which minimizes the impact of non-coding RNAs and enhances sensitivity for detecting gene expression changes.
  • Focusing solely on coding regions, mRNA-Seq does not require rRNA-specific probes (Costly) for ribosomal RNA removal and requires comparatively lesser data, making it a more cost-effective alternative to Whole Transcriptome Sequencing.
  • With a more targeted dataset, the bioinformatics analysis of mRNA-Seq is often simpler and faster, focusing on coding genes without the complexity introduced by non-coding RNAs.
mRNA Sequencing Workflow

Bioinformatics Pipeline

Flowchart diagram

Applications of mRNA Sequencing

  • mRNA sequencing is widely utilized across plants, animals, microbes, and humans.
  • Developmental Biology- Studies gene expression patterns during different stages of development, helping to unravel the mechanisms of cell differentiation and tissue formation.
  • Disease Mechanisms- Uncovers mRNA expression profiles associated with various diseases, including genetic disorders and autoimmune conditions, to identify potential diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets.
  • Drug Discovery- Analyzes mRNA expression changes in response to drug treatments, providing insights into drug mechanisms of action and helping to identify potential drug candidates.
  • Functional Genomics- Provides a comprehensive view of gene expression across different conditions, facilitating the study of gene functions and regulatory networks.
  • Comparative Genomics- Compares mRNA expression profiles across different species or environmental conditions to understand evolutionary differences and functional conservation.
  • Toxicology- Assesses changes in gene expression in response to toxic substances, aiding in the identification of biomarkers for toxicity and understanding the impact of chemicals on biological systems.

Service Specifications

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Sample Requirement

Total RNA ≥ 2 μg, Minimum Quantity: 500 ng, Concentration≥ 50 ng/µL

Cells, Tissue and other samples

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Sequencing Platform

Illumina NovaSeq 6000/ NovaSeq X
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Deliverables

  • The original sequencing data
  • Experimental results
  • Bioinformatics and Data analysis report
  • Details of mRNA Sequencing (customizable)