New Product Release: The VITA Fixed RNA Reagent for Flexible Single-Cell Research
Singapore, November 2024 - The VITA Single-Cell Transcriptome Platform, developed by M20 Genomics, has been a pioneer in enabling high-throughput, full-length transcriptome sequencing for single-cell research. With its proven capabilities across fresh, frozen, and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues, VITA Platform consistently meets the needs of researchers across various experimental settings. However, challenges arise in scenarios such as field collections, where immediate processing or freezing of tissue samples may not always be feasible, thus limiting the potential for single-cell sequencing.
To overcome these obstacles, we are excited to introduce the VITA Fixed RNA, an RNA fixation reagent (Figure 1), designed for the direct fixation of tissue samples. This new product provides researchers with greater flexibility and broader sample handling options, tailored to accommodate diverse research needs and experimental conditions. By integrating the VITA platform with the VITA Fixed RNA reagent, researchers can confidently navigate the complexities of single-cell transcriptomics, irrespective of sample collection circumstances.
Figure 1. VITA Fixed RNA reagent product view
Expanding Research Possibilities with VITA Fixed RNA Reagent
The VITA Fixed RNA reagent provides a robust method to stabilize tissue samples immediately after collection, preserving the integrity of cellular information until further analysis can be conducted.
The following steps are recommended when using the VITA Fixed RNA reagent alongside other VITA single-cell products, as part of the VITA single-cell experimental workflow:
1. After rinsing the tissue with 1x PBS, immediately immerse it in the VITA Fixed RNA reagent and mince the tissue into small pieces. Fix the tissue in the VITA Fixed RNA reagent at 4°C for a minimum of 24 hours.
2. If tissue transportation is required during the fixation process, the tissue can remain in the VITA Fixed RNA reagent at 4°C during the transportation period, ensuring the total time for fixation does not exceed 5 days.
3. Once fixation is complete, rinse the tissue with 1x PBS and transfer it to storage at -80°C. The tissue can be stored in this state for up to 6 months.
Validated Performance of VITA Fixed RNA Reagent in Single-Cell Sequencing Procedures
We assessed the performance of the VITA Fixed RNA reagent through comparative tests on mouse kidney tissues preserved using different methods, including fresh, freezing, formalin fixation and paraffin-embedding, and VITA Fixed RNA fixation. Key quality control (QC) parameters, such as cell nuclear integrity, aggregation rate, and doublet rate, were measured. Samples fixed using the VITA Fixed RNA reagent demonstrated QC parameters comparable to those of fresh and frozen samples, while significantly outperforming the FFPE sample (Figure 2).
Figure 2. Comparison of microscopic inspection of washed nuclei under different fixation methods
After the reverse transcription step in the VITA single-cell transcriptome experiment, we evaluated the quality of cDNA generated from each sample to examine how different preservation methods affect cDNA fragment size and template yield. The analysis revealed that the cDNA derived from VITA Fixed RNA-fixed samples showed quality comparable to fresh and frozen samples, while significantly outperforming that derived from the FFPE sample in terms of both RNA fragment size and template yield (Figure 3).
Figure 3. Comparison of cDNA fragment analysis under different fixation methods
Further analysis of gene expression correlation between VITA Fixed RNA-fixed samples and both fresh and frozen samples demonstrated a high degree of similarity (Figure 4). Unsupervised clustering of these samples revealed strong consistency in cell population identification (Figure 5). These results confirm that the VITA Fixed RNA reagent preserves accurate cell types during fixation and provides a reliable foundation for downstream experiments.
Figure 4. Gene expression correlation analysis between VITA Fixed RNA-fixed tissue and fresh tissue (left) and frozen tissue (right).
Figure 5. Comparison of cell clustering between data derived from VITA Fixed RNA-fixed tissue (left) and tissue preserved using other method (right)
Conclusion
These results highlight the efficiency of the VITA Fixed RNA reagent in preserving RNA integrity and maintaining accurate cell classification, providing researchers with a reliable method that ensures data quality across various tissue preservation conditions.
With its proven performance, the VITA Fixed RNA reagent unlocks new possibilities for researchers working in diverse environments and experimental settings, offering an invaluable tool to expand the scope of single-cell research and enable deeper insights into cellular function and disease mechanisms.
M20 Genomics remains committed to continuously refining the VITA platform to address the latest advancements and evolving demands of the scientific community. This product release represents a significant step forward in supporting groundbreaking discoveries in single-cell transcriptomics.
Explore the future of single-cell research with VITA Fixed RNA today!
For more information about VITA Fixed RNA reagent and how it can enhance your research, please do not hesitate to contact our team at info@m20genomics.com.
