WALTHAM, Mass., Oct. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. , the world leader in serving science, has collaborated with Lentigen Corporation to develop a powerful new technology platform that expands applications for RNAi (RNA interference) to critical fields of life sciences research, including neuroscience, immunology and stem cell biology. This advancement, called Thermo Scientific Dharmacon(R) SMARTvector(TM) shRNA Lentiviral Particles, combines Thermo Scientific gene-silencing technologies with Lentigen’s expertise in viral-delivery systems. SMARTvector will help researchers overcome common challenges faced when using RNAi, leading to permanent gene silencing in a wide range of cell types.
“With the SMARTvector advancement, we can now effectively deliver stably expressed gene silencing sequences into a broad range of cell types, including those that are difficult to work with, such as primary cells, non-dividing cells, stem cells and neuronal cell lines,” said Dr. Ian Jardine, vice president of global research and development for Thermo Fisher Scientific. “Scientists using these cell lines can now harness the power of RNAi in their research, overcoming fundamental limitations in certain existing technologies.”
Scientists at Thermo Fisher Scientific have applied innovations in RNAi to develop a novel, dedicated shRNA (short-hairpin RNA) design algorithm that is key to the SMARTvector platform. The algorithm uses criteria unique to shRNA- based silencing for the routine production of highly functional sequences specific to every gene in human, mouse and rat genomes.
“Thermo Fisher Scientific has developed a specialized shRNA design algorithm that greatly enhances the ability to select highly functional gene targeting sequences,” added Jardine. “Alternative technologies frequently produce shRNA sequences that are ineffective at silencing the targeted genes, while causing high levels of unintended gene silencing that can lead to flawed experimental results.”
By combining shRNA with Lentigen’s proprietary viral vector delivery system, the gene silencing sequence is integrated into the host cell genome. This creates permanent gene silencing that cannot be achieved with synthetic siRNAs. Permanent gene silencing is crucial in many types of experiments, including those that examine complex gene networks in drug development and neurobiology.
Dr. Boro Dropulic, founder and chief executive officer of Lentigen, said, “By linking Lentigen’s lentiviral technology and production capabilities with the RNAi expertise of Thermo Fisher Scientific, we are giving scientists a new tool that enables a much broader range of experiments involving gene silencing.”
Thermo Scientific Dharmacon SMARTvector shRNA Lentiviral Particles can be ordered at www.thermo.com/dharmacon .
About Thermo Fisher Scientific
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the world leader in serving science, enabling our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. With an annual revenue rate of more than $9 billion, we employ 30,000 people and serve over 350,000 customers within pharmaceutical and biotech companies, hospitals and clinical diagnostic labs, universities, research institutions and government agencies, as well as environmental and industrial process control settings. Serving customers through two premier brands, Thermo Scientific and Fisher Scientific, we help solve analytical challenges from routine testing to complex research and discovery. Thermo Scientific offers customers a complete range of high-end analytical instruments as well as laboratory equipment, software, services, consumables and reagents to enable integrated laboratory workflow solutions. Fisher Scientific provides a complete portfolio of laboratory equipment, chemicals, supplies and services used in healthcare, scientific research, safety and education. Together, we offer the most convenient purchasing options to customers and continuously advance our technologies to accelerate the pace of scientific discovery, enhance value for customers and fuel growth for shareholders and employees alike. Visit www.thermofisher.com.
lori.gorski@thermofisher.com E-mail: ken.apicerno@thermofisher.comwww.thermofisher.com
CONTACT: Lori Gorski, +1-781-622-1242, lori.gorski@thermofisher.com or for
Investors Ken Apicerno, +1-781-622-1111, ken.apicerno@thermofisher.com,
both of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
Web site: http://www.thermofisher.com/
http://www.thermo.com/dharmacon/
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