RNA Depletion Solutions

Gene expression studies lie at the heart of understanding cellular processes, disease mechanisms, and developmental pathways. However, profiling of gene expression requires overcoming significant challenges, one of which is the presence of abundant transcripts, in particular ribosomal RNA (rRNA). Ribosomal RNA constitutes a substantial portion of total RNA in cells, often exceeding 80%. During RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), rRNA reads dominate the dataset, overshadowing other RNA species. This dominance hampers the detection of low-abundance transcripts and distorts gene expression profiles.

Ribodepletion refers to the targeted removal of rRNA from RNA samples before sequencing. Ribodepletion improves the detection of low-abundance transcripts. Genes expressed at low levels become more visible, leading to a comprehensive view of the transcriptome. This allows researchers to focus on biologically relevant transcripts without interference from abundant rRNA. Ribodepletion minimizes false positives and false negatives, improving statistical power.

In addition to rRNA depletion , selective removal of other abundant but biologically uninformative RNA species, such as globin mRNA in whole blood, highly expressed mitochondrial RNAs, or repetitive host transcripts, can further refine data quality and sensitivity. These targeted depletion strategies are particularly valuable in contexts where specific RNA classes dominate the library.

Revvity offers both Cas9-gRNA and probe based hybridization depletion accessories to remove uninformative molecules prior to sequencing and improve your ability to detect biologically relevant transcripts in single cell sequencing, whole blood samples, and even complex communities containing host and bacteria RNA.

For research use only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.