PCR Biosystems RiboShield RNase Inhibitor

PCR Biosystems’ RiboShield RNase Inhibitor, already an important component of several of the company’s kits, is now available as a standalone product. It is a recombinant protein, purified from a strain of Pichia pastoris that expresses a modified human placental gene, and blocks the activity of a wide range of ribonucleases to protect RNA from RNase digestion.

The inhibitor is designed for use in a variety of RNA-sensitive applications, including RNA purification, cDNA synthesis, RT-PCR, RNA sequencing and in-situ hybridisation. With such techniques, the presence of even small amounts of RNase can be highly detrimental to RNA quality and experimental outcome. The product also complements PCR Biosystems’ range of products to support COVID-19 research and testing.

One application for the inhibitor is in saliva-based testing for the presence of SARS-CoV-2. While the sample is simple to obtain, the digestive enzymes present in saliva make for a hostile environment for RNA. Using an RNase inhibitor is essential to provide adequate RNA protection and generate accurate test results.

The product performs over a wide variety of reaction conditions and can inhibit RNases at temperatures up to 65°C for at least 30 min. The molecule binds noncovalently at a ratio of 1:1 to inhibit the activity of a range of ribonucleases, including eukaryotic RNases of the neutral type (RNases A, B and C).

The inhibitor does not hinder other enzymes, such as reverse transcriptases, RNA polymerases or Taq DNA polymerase, making it compatible with many enzymatic reactions that utilise RNA. In addition, the rapid kinetics of association to RNases ensures immediate protection of RNA, leading to high performance in applications where RNase contamination is a concern.