Affymetrix introduces new GeneChip miRNA 2.0 Array

Affymetrix, Inc. (NASDAQ:AFFX) today launched the GeneChip^® miRNA 2.0 Array. This enhanced version of its best-in-class microRNA (miRNA) interrogation solution will support the research community's pursuit of personalized medicine by accelerating the identification of biomarkers and gene expression signatures associated with disease. Built on the success of the first-generation miRNA Array design, turnkey assay, and data analysis solution, the GeneChip miRNA 2.0 Array combines the most comprehensive miRNA view with the highest level of sensitivity available.

This new GeneChip miRNA 2.0 Array offers the broadest coverage of known miRNA, encompassing 131 organisms on a single array, and nearly doubles the content of the previous array by updating the mature miRNA, small cajal body-specific RNA (scaRNA), and small nucleolar RNA (snoRNA). Moreover, it is the only array that contains unique probe sequences designed to independently interrogate human, mouse, and rat precursor RNA (pre-miRNA) and mature miRNA in the same experiment, which increases researchers' ability to get closer to biology by measuring changes in these key regulatory molecules.

"I've had great success using the first-generation miRNA Array in my work profiling frozen and archival (FFPE) biopsy specimens for predicting effectiveness of therapeutics such as chemo-radiotherapy treatment in head and neck cancers—it's robust, straightforward to use, and the data quality is reliable," remarked Catherine Dumur, PhD, Director of the Molecular Morphology Genomics Facility and Associate Professor at Virginia Commonwealth University. "The release of a potentially more sensitive version with updated content will be helpful to my current research, based on the good performance of the first version."

The GeneChip miRNA 2.0 Array has excellent sensitivity across every miRNA transcript. Testing demonstrates that the array reproducibly detects 94 percent of all transcripts present in the sample at 1.0 attomole. Coupled with the Genisphere FlashTag™ Biotin RNA Labeling Kit, the new array maintains the same simple and robust assay protocol, requiring only a 45-minute assay with no amplification or purification steps, and as little as 100 nanograms of input total RNA. The entire solution—array, assay, and software—is compatible with current GeneChip® Systems from Affymetrix.

"This new GeneChip miRNA 2.0 Array demonstrates Affymetrix' commitment to stay at the forefront of gene expression analysis and to provide life scientists like Dr. Dumur with relevant and timely content that is critical to research in gene expression and cellular function," said Kevin Cannon, PhD, Vice President of Expression Applications at Affymetrix. "With its complete and comprehensive view of all coding and non-coding miRNA, researchers gain greater access to the entire miRNA spectrum—from human to model organisms, at a competitive price."

In addition, miRNAs discovered using the GeneChip miRNA 2.0 Array can be validated using the new QuantiGene^® 2.0 miRNA Assay Kit. This kit, which will be available soon, uses reporter amplification and generates quantitative information directly from samples without the need for miRNA isolation, cDNA synthesis, or PCR. Detection probes are pre-validated for specificity and sensitivity and are designed to the same target sequences used in the GeneChip miRNA 2.0 Array. Only on the Affymetrix RNA platform will researchers be able to go from whole-genome analysis to single-gene validation in a single experiment.