CD Genomics is devoted to partnering with you to determine the optimal solution or technology to suit your specific small RNA research project. We provide complete, flexible and affordable small RNA solutions with the power of mass spectrometry (MS) or next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology to help scientists deepen the understanding of small RNA biology.

Overview of Small RNAs

Small RNAs are a class of short, non-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression via post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS), chromatin-dependent gene silencing, RNA activation (CDGS), or DNA methylation, histone, and chromatin modifications. They also play critical roles in cell differentiation, growth, proliferation, migration, apoptosis, metabolism and defense. Increasing evidence indicates that small RNAs are involved in the pathogenesis of multiple diseases such as cancer, stroke, diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease, cardiovascular disease and infectious disease. Small RNA may serve as biomarkers and therapeutic targets for diseases. Small RNAs consist of microRNAs (miRNAs), small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs). miRNAs with a length of around 22 nt are an abundant subset of the small RNA population. they can inhibit the expression of target genes via PTGS or CDGS. siRNAs have a distinct size distribution that are able to inhibit gene expression via PTGS or CDGS. piRNAs are the most recently identified class of small RNAs that bind to Piwi to exert inhibitory or even enhanced effects of piRNAs on their target genes. Recently, increasing studies of small RNAs, reflecting the novel association of these molecules with many critical biological functions.

Characteristics of Small RNAs

1. Small RNAs consist of miRNAs, siRNAs and piRNAs.
2. Most miRNAs are conserved among species.
3. Small RNAs are short (~ 18 to 30 nucleotides).
4. Small RNAs could play critical roles in development, physiology and disease.
5. Small RNAs may regulate gene expression via PTGS, CDGS or epigenetic modifications.

Our Solutions for Comprehensive small RNA Research

We provide mass spectrometry (MS) and NGS approaches for small RNA profiling, characterization and discovery applications.

Small RNA Sequencing	Mass Spectrometry	Interaction Prediction
Small RNA-seq is a robust technique to isolate and sequence the complete range of small RNA and miRNA species with unprecedented sensitivity and dynamic range. Small RNA-seq can profile global small RNAs, examines their expression levels and characterize variations with single-base resolution.	MS is currently the only tool that can directly and comprehensively characterize modifications in RNA sequences. We provide analysis of small RNAs by LC-MS to determine modification sites with single-nucleotide resolution and map small RNA-binding proteins.	We provide NGS and MS services to identify and characterize small RNA-protein interactions. Our solutions include MS analysis of RNA pull down, ChIRP-MS and ChIRP-seq.

References:

1. Zhang C. Novel functions for small RNA molecules. Current opinion in molecular therapeutics, 2009, 11(6): 641.
2. Wein S, Andrews B, Sachsenberg T, et al. A computational platform for high-throughput analysis of RNA sequences and modifications by mass spectrometry. Nature communications, 2020, 11(1): 1-12.