New Gene-Expression Microarray with Probes Specific for Human Large Intergenic Noncoding RNAs

Agilent Technologies have introduced the Agilent SurePrint G3 Human Gene-Expression v2 Microarray, the only product available with an array of probes designed using the Broad Institute’s recently published human reference catalogue of large intergenic noncoding RNAs.

LincRNAs are believed to be important regulators of gene expression, playing a role in embryonic development and other cellular processes. Functional analysis of individual lincRNAs has proved challenging for researchers but recent advances in sequencing and computational methods have improved analytic capabilities in the field.

“We’ve just begun to scratch the surface of how lincRNAs control a host of processes in the body, from fat development to tumour growth,” said Moran N. Cabili, a researcher at the Broad Institute and co-author of the article introducing the human lincRNA reference catalogue. “This collaboration with Agilent, which draws on the most comprehensive database of lincRNAs created to date, will be instrumental in speeding the discovery process.”

The SurePrint G3 Human Gene Expression v2 Microarray is part of a highly sensitive microarray platform with the widest dynamic range (over five orders of magnitude), designed to detect low and high expressors. The new microarray system has fully customisable content, allowing researchers to design microarrays relevant to their experiment.

In addition to the newly available probes, the SurePrint G3 Human Gene Expression v2 Microarray includes an update of the latest mRNA content from the National Center for Biotechnology Information RefSeq gene database.