biotechrabbit™ MMuLV Reverse Transcriptase is an exceptionally pure DNA polymerase which uses RNA as a substrate and exhibits no measurable proofreading 3'→5' exonuclease function. This enzyme performs cDNA synthesis by extending a DNA primer annealed to an RNA template; it can also make copies from a single-stranded DNA templates.
The enzyme is purified from a recombinant E. coli strain carrying the MMuLV reverse transcriptase gene.
Component | Composition |
MMuLV Reverse Transcriptase | MMuLV Reverse Transcriptase, 200 U/µl, in storage buffer containing 50% (v/v) glycerol. |
10× MMuLV RT Buffer | Optimized 10× MMuLV Reverse Transcriptase reaction buffer. |
STORAGE | -20°C (until expiry date – see product label) |
Unit Definition
One unit is the amount of enzyme activity that incorporates 1 nmole of dTTP into acid insoluble fraction in 10 minutes at 42°C when poly(A)+ RNA and oligo (dT)20 are used as template-primer.
Quality Control
Functional Assay
cDNA synthesis with specific primers, followed by quantitative PCR.
Exonuclease assay
Linearized lambda/HindII fragments are incubated with Reverse Transcriptase in a 50 µl reaction mixture for 4 h at 37°C. No degradation of DNA was observed.
Endonuclease assay
lambda DNA is incubated with Reverse Transcriptase in a 50 µl reaction mixture for 4 h at 37°C. No degradation of DNA was observed.
Nick Activity
Supercoiled plasmid DNA is incubated with Reverse Transcriptase in a 50 µl reaction mixture for 4 h at 37°C. No conversion of covalently closed circular DNA to nicked DNA was detected.
E. coli genomic DNA contamination assay
A sample of Reverse Transcriptase is analyzed with specific primers targeting the 16S rRNA gene in qPCR for the presence of contaminating E. coli DNA. No E. coli DNA was detectable.
RNase Assay
A sample of the enzyme was incubated with a RNA template. RNase activity was not observed after agarose gel electrophoresis.
Prevention of cDNA synthesis reaction contamination
RNase contamination is an exceptional concern when working with RNA. RNase A, providing most threat to RNA integrity, is a highly stable contaminant of any laboratory. To prevent RNA from degradation and to minimize possibility of contamination during cDNA synthesis; follow the guidelines below:
- Use separate clean areas for preparation of the samples and the reaction mixture.
- DEPC-treat all tubes and pipette tips or use certified nuclease-free labware with aerosol filters.
- Wear fresh gloves when handling RNA and all reagents.
- Always assess the integrity of RNA prior to cDNA synthesis in denaturing agarose gel electrophoresis.
- Use RNase free water and other reagents.
- To prevent RNA from degradation, add Ribonuclease inhibitor (optional) in to the cDNA synthesis reaction (20 units for 20 µl reaction).
Typical cDNA synthesis reaction set up
- Thaw on ice and mix very well all reagents.
- Assemble and keep all reactions on ice.
- To use time and reagents effectively, always prepare master mix for multiple reactions. For a master mix volume, always calculate the number reactions that you need plus one additional.
- Combine the following in an RNase-free reaction tube:
Component | Volume | Final concentration |
dNTP Mix (10 mM each dNTP) | 4 µl | 2 mM (each dNTP) |
RNase Inhibitor, 40 U/µl (optional) | 1 µl | 2 U/µl |
Oligo (dT)12–18 (10 µM) – or Hexamer Primer (25 µM) – or Gene Specific Primer (10 µM) | 0.5 µl 1 µl 0.5 µl | 0.25 µM 1.25 µM 0.25 µM |
10× MMuLV RT Buffer | 2 µl | 1× |
RNA Template | 0.5–5 µg total RNA or 50–500 ng mRNA (polyA) |
|
MMuLV Reverse Transcriptase | 1 µl | 10 U/µl |
RNase-free water | Variable |
|
Total volume | 20 µl |
|
- Mix and collect the drops by centrifuging briefly.
- When using
- Hexamer Primer, incubate 10 minutes at 25°C followed by 42°C for 45–60 minutes
- Oligo (dT) or gene-specific Primer incubate at 42°C for 45–60 minutes.
- Inactivate enzyme at 85°C for 10 minutes.
- Collect the drops by spinning briefly.
- Store products at –20°C or proceed to next step, like PCR or qPCR.
- Use maximum 10 µl of the cDNA synthesis reaction mix for PCR in 50 µl volume.
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