Nanopore Sequencing of RNA Using Reverse Transcription

Patent Status

Patent Pending

Brief Description

The inventors constructed the “quadromer map” for ssRNA in the MspA nanopore, which is essentially a table that can convert measured nanopore ion current to RNA sequences, using ssRNAs of known sequences. In addition, the inventors discovered that the single-molecule kinetic rates of the reverse transcriptase are affected by the presence of stable RNA secondary structures. Monitoring this biophysical behavior can be used to determine RNA structures during nanopore sequencing. 

Nanopore sequencing is a powerful third generation sequencing technology that offers advantages such as ultra-long read length and direct detection of chemically modified bases. One of the key components of developing a successful nanopore sequencer is identifying potent motor proteins (such as polymerases or helicases) that can thread single-stranded (ss) DNA or ssRNA through the nanopore in discrete steps with high processivity. 

Suggested uses

• in developing commercial RNA sequencers that can directly sequence RNA extracted from any biological sample
• to identify expression levels, mutations, secondary structures, and chemical modifications of RNA
• to sequence full length RNA without the need of fragmentation, which is made possible by the long read nature of nanopore sequencers

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Advantages

• ultra-long read length and direct detection of chemically modified bases
• a potent motor protein that can processively thread ssRNA through the MspA biological nanopore in single nucleotide steps while it is synthesizing cDNA

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