#USA #New England Biolabs #EM-seq #methylation detection #Ipswich

New England Biolabs Launches EM-seq™ v2

In a significant advancement for molecular biology research, New England Biolabs (NEB®) has unveiled the EM-seq™ v2 kit, a cutting-edge alternative to traditional bisulfite sequencing methods. This new kit enhances the sensitivity and specificity of detecting DNA methylation marks, specifically 5-methylcytosine (5mC) and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), with a dramatically reduced input requirement.

Traditionally, researchers faced challenges using bisulfite sequencing due to DNA damage that leads to fragmentation and bias. EM-seq v2 introduces an enzyme-based method that circumvents these issues, providing a reliable solution for analyzing samples, especially those with limited amounts of DNA. The minimum required DNA input has been lowered from 10 ng to just 100 picograms, which is a game-changer for researchers dealing with low-yield samples typical in clinical and epigenetic contexts.

Andrew Barry, Associate Director of Product Portfolio Management at NEB, emphasizes the importance of this kit for clinical research. “Researchers often struggle with sequencing samples that fall below the 10 ng threshold of traditional bisulfite methods,” he explains. “With EM-seq v2, they can achieve high-quality data from lower input amounts, allowing better data utilization without necessitating increased sequencing.”

Key Features of EM-seq v2

• - Substantially Lower DNA Input: This improvement means that samples with limited availability can now be analyzed effectively, opening doors for many researchers and labs.

• - Streamlined Workflow: The updated kit features a quicker incubation phase and eliminates a cleanup step, resulting in time savings of approximately 30-45 minutes. This makes the overall process more efficient and timely, a must for busy lab environments.

• - Improved Performance: Users can expect enhanced data quality with greater mapping efficiency and more even GC coverage. This provides a broader detection range of CpGs (cytosine-phosphate-guanine sites) with fewer sequencing reads, which is particularly beneficial for downstream analyses.

Community Feedback

Dr. Marta Gut, Head of the Sequencing Unit at the Centro Nacional de Análisis Genómico (CNAG) in Spain, highlights the importance of reliability in research kits, stating, “As an ISO 17025 accredited laboratory, we need dependable and reproducible products. After benchmarking NEBNext EM-seq v2 against the traditional bisulfite conversion method, we found it surpassed expectations in our methylation analyses.”

The EM-seq v2 kit is also compatible with automation, facilitating easier scalability for research projects. Additionally, it is designed to work alongside the 5hmC-seq kit for those specifically targeting 5hmC. For added flexibility, indexing primers are supplied separately, allowing for more efficient sample multiplexing.

Future Developments

Although the original EM-seq kit will not be discontinued, researchers are encouraged to explore the advancements offered by EM-seq v2. More extensive performance data and insights are available at www.NEBNext.com.

About New England Biolabs

For over fifty years, New England Biolabs has been at the forefront of developing innovative products for molecular biology research. Their commitment to advancing scientific understanding is clear across their extensive product lineup and investments in both basic and applied research. With headquarters in Ipswich, MA, NEB continues to support researchers worldwide, promoting cutting-edge technologies in various fields, including molecular diagnostics and vaccine development. For more information about NEB and their offerings, visit www.neb.com.