Gene expression analysis with Nanostring technology
Key Features
- Multiplex over 700 targets
- Multiple sample types
- Ability to analyse RNA extracted from FFPE tissues
- Total or fragmented RNA
- Cell lysates
- PBMC
- Whole blood and plasma
- Urine and saliva
- CSF and synovial fluid
- Produce robust data from low amounts of input sample
- Pre-designed gene panels or create your own custom panel
- 3D biology – analyse DNA, RNA and protein
- Digital spatial profiling – understand tumour and microenvironment with morphological context whilst maintaining sample integrity
Placing an order couldn’t be easier - simply complete our enquiry form and a member of our team will respond with a study proposal.
Unsure which panel is right for your study? Contact us and one of our team will be in touch to discuss your requirements and advise the most appropriate study design. To see a complete list of available ready-to-use panels, click here
Nanostring technology – how it works
Nanostring technology is based on direct molecular barcoding of target molecules utilising a unique probe for each target of interest followed by digital detection of each individual target. The target probe consists of 6 colour coded positions with up to 4 colours allowing a diverse range of unique patterns, each relating to a single target ID.
Accurate
Reproducible
Reliable
Flexible
Up to 770 different target probes can be included with the sample in each well creating a highly multiplexed approach. The individual targets are digitally resolved by the Nanostring nCounter instrument and software during data collection.
Hybridize
Each sample is exposed to a reaction mixture with excess target probes to ensure each target finds a probe pair.
The sample will undergo hybridisation before excess probes are washed off in a two-step magnetic bead-based purification process.
Purify and immobilise
A system of sequential washing and purification steps provides a final purified target probe complex elute.
The Elute is immobilized and aligned on the nCounter cartridge for data collection.
Count
Sample cartridges are scanned by epifluorescence microscopy. CCD capture technology provides a large number of individual target molecule counts.
Data Analysis
The nSolver Analysis Software is used to interrogate the hundreds of thousands of target molecule counts to provide measurements with a high level of precision and accuracy.
Data Output
Along with a raw data file and normalised data, statistical outputs and a variety of publication-quality figures can be produced to add further insights and visualise important data sets.
Visualise data to make inferences about data sets and evaluate gene expression
Heat Maps – identify relationships between all datasets and evaluate gene expression profiles
Violin plots – similar to a box plot by displaying the range of data. They show density of values in a similar way to a histogram and can be used to illustrate relative gene expression in different cell populations
Box plots – these non-parametric analyses display differences between subsets of an experiment, showing the range of data
Scatter plots – compare variables in raw, normalized, grouped or ratio data by using Cartesian coordinates. Identify the trends in the relationship between two variables without data manipulation
Histograms – Display and estimate the probability distribution of a continuous variable
The raw data files are compatible with most 3rd party analysis software, allowing the flexibility for sponsors to perform their own bioinformatics.