microRNA Expression Profiling Service using Asuragen’s miRLink™ Arrays

MicroRNA (miRNA) expression profiling, using robust and sensitive microarrays, can provide broad and novel insight into gene regulation. Asuragen has developed a microarray-based application for studying miRNAs that combines a unique miRNA labeling method with an innovative probe design and the established Codelink® technology. This custom miRLinkTM v11.0 Array is manufactured by Applied Microarrays Inc. (AMI) exclusively for Asuragen. miRLink v11.0 Array captures the entire human, mouse and rat content of the Sanger 11.0 database on a single array. The competitive cost of the miRLink array and service allows profiling of a significantly larger number of samples for a greater statistical power in your experiments. As a result, miRLink provides a cost effective yet robust and high performance miRNA array with validated Sanger content.

General specifications of the Asuragen’s miRLink miRNA microarrays and service:

  • 8-plex format (8 arrays per slide)
  • Up to 30-mer probe length
  • 3 replicate features per miRNA
  • Entire Sanger miRBase 11.0 content for human, mouse, or rat on a single array (837 human mature miRNAs, 599 mouse, 350 rat, 85 controls – with redundancies eliminated)
  • In-process controls to monitor labeling and hybridization to ensure consistent results
  • Species-specific results, all miRNAs are annotated according to the Sanger 13.0 database
  • See Performance Specification

Learn more about how we qualify our methods and staff.

Description of Services

Workflow for Asuragen miRLink array services:

  • RNA isolation methods verified to recover miRNA
  • Incoming total RNA QC (sample preparation services):
    • Quantitation and estimation of RNA purity using NanoDrop spectrophotometer readings at 260 and 280 nm
    • qRT-PCR assessment of discrete miRNAs as a surrogate measure of overall miRNA abundance
    • See our Sample Submission and Shipping Instructions for recommended incoming sample QC values
  • Target preparation
  • Array hybridization, washing, and scanning followed by array QC analysis
  • Data summarization (see Deliverables Section)

Deliverables

As part of the miRLink miRNA Expression Profiling Service, you will receive:

Analyses performed are:

  • Variance stabilization Normalization (VSN) as default normalization method
  • Hypothesis testing with one-way ANOVA or t-Test
  • Principal Component Analysis (PCA) on detected probes and all significant probes
  • Hierarchical clustering
  • Annotations to Sanger 13.0

Asuragen’s miRLink Deliverables:

  • Raw Data
    • GPR files, GPS Files and JPEG files

  • Analysis Report (in MS Excel Format for each species i.e. human, mouse and rat, unless table dimensions exceed MS Excel capabilities, in which case .csv files will be provided)
    • Project Description

    • Array QC

    • Background Corrected Data

    • Normalized Data

    • Statistics

  • Figures (in .jpg format for each species i.e. human, mouse and rat; some figures may not be included depending on the experimental design)
    • Boxplots (before and after normalization)

    • Hierarchical clustering

    • PCA Plots

    • Pairwise Volcano plots

To ensure security, all information is provided in an electronic form on a DVD. Encryption is available on request. Data may also be delivered by FTP or e-mail.

Quality Control

During our processes, we monitor many QC checkpoints. We utilize in-process sample controls, and process or reagent batch controls. Should any sample-specific QC measure result in an “alert” or “fail” reading, we will contact you to discuss available options. These rigorous procedures enable Asuragen to be the only service provider to offer a Data Quality Guarantee:

  • If, for any reason, a qualified sample does not pass our process control specifications, we will re-run the sample at no additional charge.

Read more about our commitment to the best possible data quality, or read about our contributions to in-process controls and standardization.


Turn-around Time

Most projects are completed in one to two weeks. Contact us if you have a critical time requirement; we can often meet your need for no additional charge. Read more about our commitment to prompt turn-around times.

Additional Services Available from Asuragen


Catalog Numbers for miRLink Services

CA0032 QC, NanoDrop and TaqMan, Total RNA, for microRNA Applications
CA0094 Target Preparation; miRLink Arrays; per sample
CA0095 Array Processing and Scanning miRLink arrays, per sample
CS0010 Data Analysis, Custom
CS0004 Data analysis, microRNA, SSP, per unit of 100 samples
CC0520 miRLink v11.0 Array, for 8 samples

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